The Times of India · 12 Oct, 18:32 · Business briefing

PERM certifications at 13 IT companies fell to 607 in nine months from 1,670 in FY25

Recent data indicates a significant decline in Permanent Labour Certification applications across thirteen major information technology firms.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

26%average salary uplift after a professional certificate

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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 data indicates a significant decline in Permanent Labour Certification applications across thirteen major information technology firms. Over a nine-month period, these certifications dropped from 1,670 in the 2025 financial year to just 607. This sharp reduction suggests a strategic pivot by employers away from traditional overseas recruitment models. Professionals in the technology sector should note this shift, as it signals changing hiring practices and potential constraints on international talent mobility within these specific corporate entities.

Employer demand for Data Science 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.

This trend signals a tightening labour market for international tech roles, meaning your global mobility options may narrow. Consequently, skills that demonstrate immediate, localised value will rise in prominence. You should prioritise mastering in-demand technical competencies that reduce employer reliance on external recruitment. Focus on upskilling in data analysis or cloud infrastructure to remain competitive. Simultaneously, strengthen your local professional network, as referrals will likely outweigh formal applications. Smart professionals will diversify their skill sets to include compliance and governance, ensuring they meet stricter domestic hiring standards. Adapt quickly by targeting roles that require niche expertise, where supply remains low despite broader market contraction.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Data Science, Cloud Computing, Compliance And Governance 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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