Chennai, Bengaluru lead India’s SaaS talent demand in H1 FY2026; hiring eases in Q2: Report

The top 100 SaaS companies saw a 4% quarter-on-quarter decline in open roles in April-September 2025, driven mainly by a 30% drop in hiring among small firms, a new Careernet study has revealed. Mid-sized companies saw modest hiring demand, while large and mega firms maintained stable hiring, showing a cautious but steady demand for talent across the sector.

Holistic talent solutions provider Careernet’s latest study, India’s SaaS Talent Ecosystem H1 FY2026, is based on the analysis of active hiring demand across 100 Series A+ funded SaaS companies, including unicorns, during H1 FY2026.

The report finds that mid-sized SaaS companies (201–1,800 employees) form the backbone of the ecosystem, accounting for 58% of firms analysed, while half of the companies operate with multi-location offices—indicating increasing scale and operational maturity.

“India’s SaaS hiring is evolving alongside the country’s rapid digital transformation and broader tech exports ecosystem. With India ranking among the world’s most digitalised economies and the software services sector crossing ~$200 billion in exports, our digital-savvy talent pool is powering global demand,” said Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer, Careernet, in a statement.

He added: “Rather than unfocused expansion, companies are prioritising high-impact engineering, product and customer-facing roles that directly support innovation and revenue, reflecting confidence in long-term demand. This disciplined hiring approach strengthens India’s SaaS talent foundation and reinforces the nation’s role as a key engine of digital and SaaS-led growth.”

Geographically, SaaS talent is concentrated in Chennai (34% of the talent base), followed by Bengaluru (21%) and Delhi NCR (20%). Tier-II cities are gradually gaining relevance, contributing nearly 4% of overall SaaS talent, reflecting the early decentralisation of hiring beyond traditional tech hubs.

Read more