The Times of India · 1 Oct, 13:12 · Business briefing

Indian IT sector layoffs: Which jobs are facing pressure & which skills are in demand?

Recent reports indicate significant restructuring within the Indian IT sector, characterised by widespread layoffs across traditional software development and support roles.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Recent reports indicate significant restructuring within the Indian IT sector, characterised by widespread layoffs across traditional software development and support roles. The Times of India highlights a distinct shift in employer priorities, moving away from generic coding positions towards specialised technical competencies. Companies are actively seeking expertise in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cloud architecture, and data analytics. This trend reflects a broader industry correction, where organisations prioritise efficiency and advanced digital capabilities over headcount expansion, signalling a critical pivot for professionals seeking stability and growth in the current labour market.

Employer demand for Artificial Intelligence skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

You must treat this shift as a mandate to upskill immediately. Traditional support roles are shrinking, while demand surges for AI and cloud expertise. If you rely solely on legacy programming skills, your market value is declining. Focus on mastering Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing, as these are the primary drivers of current hiring. Analyse your current role against these high-demand areas; if you lack alignment, begin targeted learning today. Do not wait for your next performance review. Proactively certify your skills in data-driven technologies to remain indispensable. Your career resilience now depends on adapting to this technological pivot, ensuring you offer strategic value rather than just operational capacity.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Data Science and Cyber Security — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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