India’s talent glut deepens; applications per tech role jump up to 2x post layoffs

A wave of ~50,000 layoffs in 2026 has reshaped the talent market, with Careernet data indicating ~100 applicants within 24 hours for mid-level roles and a 20–25% surge in tech volumes.

“With thousands of job cuts, the available talent pool of job seekers has expanded faster than the market can absorb, driving a sharp surge in applications per role. Displaced professionals are not just applying more but more broadly, targeting adjacent functions, different industries and roles they previously overlooked or for which they may be overqualified,” said Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer, Careernet.

The impact is most visible at early- and mid-levels (0–8 years), especially across software engineering, application maintenance, and support roles, where AI-led automation is reshaping demand. Hiring is becoming more selective, with a sharper focus on specialized skills in AI, data, and cloud, while compensation trends remain steady at ~9.1% increments amid shifting employer leverage.

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