IT hiring plans hit all-time low: Report

Only 58% of Indian information technology (IT) firms plan to hire during AprilSeptember, according to the Experis IT Employment Outlook Survey findings shared exclusively with Mint, a 15% drop from the previous quarter.

The survey of 560 companies, conducted by Experis IT, a 100% subsidiary of staffing firm ManpowerGroup, shows that hiring across IT firms may be hit over the next two quarters due to an overall global slowdown, impact of automation and scarcity of the right talent with niche skills.

The survey reveals employers are hiring more on demand, including on contract and up-skilling and reskilling internal staff to cater to niche roles.

Software development roles will lead the demand for key skills with a net employment outlook of 34%. Those in programming, digital media, cloud-based technology, CRM, CSI ADM (categorised as ‘others’ in the survey) can expect good hiring in the upcoming quarters with a 18% employment outlook.

Almost 20% of respondents said demand for a combination of complex and niche IT skills will be the highest in the coming months. IT services companies reported the highest hiring intention at 22% in the next two quarters, followed by products (16%), startups (10%) and captive and e-commerce firms (5% each).

With a net employment outlook of 24%, South India will see maximum hiring activity, followed by North and West India at 16% each, and East India at 2%.