Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 2: Entry-level hiring in the technology sector is becoming increasingly challenging for fresh graduates as Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and IT services firms prioritise specialised skills and professionals who can be deployed immediately on digital transformation projects.
According to Bengaluru-based specialist staffing firm Xpheno, opportunities for technology professionals with up to two years of experience have dropped to 10,000 openings in June 2026, down from 13,000 in May and marking a sharp 44 per cent decline compared to June 2025.
Despite the slowdown in entry-level recruitment, overall hiring demand remains strong. GCCs are projected to account for 17,000 openings in June, representing 18 per cent of the total active demand for technology talent. The sector is expected to witness around 93,000 technology job openings during the month.
"The overall demand volume from GCCs has recorded a significant 31 per cent year-on-year increase," said Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno.
Industry experts noted that the entry-level IT job market is shifting from a volume-driven hiring model to a skills-based approach.
"Fresher hiring has not disappeared, but companies are becoming more selective and increasingly prioritising candidates with practical exposure to AI, cloud, automation, cybersecurity, data engineering and full-stack technologies," said Kapil Joshi, CEO, IT Staffing, Quess Corp.
Employers are also moving away from large-scale recruitment drives and placing greater emphasis on candidates with job-ready capabilities, according to Peush Saproo, associate director and head of sales, permanent recruitment, Adecco India.
Currently, around 32 per cent of fresher job postings are concentrated in software and hardware roles, with strong demand for skills in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data engineering and software development, he said.
Compared to traditional IT services companies, GCCs continue to drive technology hiring.
Joshi said GCCs have increased their share of overall IT demand from nearly 15 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent in 2025 and account for almost 73 per cent of new technology jobs. Demand remains strong for deployment-ready professionals in areas such as Generative AI, MLOps, cloud automation, FinOps and cybersecurity.
He added that mid-level professionals now account for nearly 65 per cent of overall technology hiring demand.
However, the supply of specialised talent remains limited. As a result, hiring cycles for niche roles have extended from around 75 days to more than 90 days, while salaries for emerging technology positions command premiums ranging from 20 to 40 per cent.
While average fresher salaries across sectors range between Rs 2.8 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh per annum, entry-level positions in IT and fintech typically offer between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 7 lakh annually.
Candidates with expertise in AI, data science and cloud technologies command significantly higher compensation, with entry-level salaries in these domains ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per annum.
The trend has resulted in a more differentiated compensation structure, with high-demand digital skills driving stronger salary growth than conventional technology roles, Saproo added.