Weekly Hiring Update: Tech and Manufacturing Trends
The new fiscal year has gotten off to a slow start for India’s tech sector. Xpheno’s latest report shows active job postings dipped 8% to 110,000 in April compared to March, with entry-level roles taking the biggest hit. Meanwhile, the manufacturing industry is seeing a major split: the informal sector is struggling to keep up with 2015-16 employment levels, while the formal sector continues to show growth.
Weekly Hiring Update — April 6, 2026
IT and Manufacturing Employment Trends
IT Sector: A Rocky Start to FY27
Hiring in the tech sector has hit a lull at the start of the 2027 fiscal year (FY27). According to the April "Active Tech Jobs Outlook" report from staffing firm Xpheno, active tech job postings fell to 110,000, marking an 8% decline from March. This drop signals a clear slowdown following the growth seen in previous months.
It’s worth noting that fresher roles are under the most pressure. Companies are shifting away from mass hiring and instead prioritizing high-skill roles in areas like AI, engineering, and digital operations.
Manufacturing Sector: The Divide Between Formal and Informal
A stark polarization has emerged in the manufacturing job market. Recent data shows that employment in the informal manufacturing sector has stagnated for nearly a decade and is currently trailing behind 2015-16 levels. Conversely, the formal manufacturing sector is growing, creating a clear divergence in how these two areas are performing.
Additionally, while the March Manufacturing PMI saw some cooling due to global supply chain issues and rising costs, companies are still pushing ahead with hiring and expanding their export operations.
Employment Statistics and Unemployment
In February 2026, the unemployment rate stood at 4.9%, a slight improvement from 5% the previous month. This beat market expectations (which predicted a rise to 5.1%) and suggests the labor market remains resilient, hovering near the record low of 4.7% seen last November.
Separately, government data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) shows that the unemployment rate for those aged 15 and above has steadily declined from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24.
Key Figures
- Feb 2026 Unemployment: 4.9% (down from 5%)
- Record Low: 4.7% (recorded in Nov 2025)
- Active Tech Job Postings: 110,000 (down 8% from March)
Job Seeker Trends and Remote Work Preferences
While there isn't much new regional data on remote work this week, broader industry trends point to a few key shifts:
1. Hybrid is the New Normal Globally, the most common setup is the "3 days in office, 2 days remote" model, adopted by about 42% of hybrid employers. A "2 days in office, 3 days remote" schedule remains a top choice for about 28% of workers.
2. Return-to-Office Pressure is Rising By the end of 2026, roughly 30% of companies are expected to mandate full-time (5 days) office attendance, and nearly half are planning to require employees to be in the office at least four days a week.
3. Remote Roles Still Highly Sought After Job seekers continue to favor roles that offer remote flexibility, viewing it as an expected standard rather than just a nice-to-have perk.
This update is based on reports published after March 30, 2026, and is intended to provide a high-level overview of the current job market.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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