The Future of Hiring in India: From Volume to ValueBy Murali Santhanam, CHRO, AscentHR

India’s hiring landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. Traditionally driven by sheer volume — especially in IT services, BPOs, and manufacturing — the focus is now decisively shifting toward value. The need to align talent with innovation, adaptability, and strategic outcomes is reshaping hiring priorities across industries.

From Mass Hiring to Smart Hiring

For years, India was synonymous with large-scale recruitment, particularly in tech and support services. Companies prioritized scale and cost arbitrage. However, the tectonic shifts brought by automation, AI, and global economic pressures have recalibrated the hiring lens from quantity to quality. As per the NASSCOM Talent Pulse 2024 report, over 65% of IT firms are now focusing on hiring for specialized roles — AI/ML engineers, data scientists, cybersecurity analysts — as opposed to traditional coding or support roles. Additionally, hiring cycles have grown longer, as organizations prioritize deeper skill assessment, cultural alignment, and long-term potential.

Rise of Skill-Based Hiring

One of the clearest indicators of the shift to value-based hiring is the growing adoption of skill-first strategies. Platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed have reported a spike in demand for certifications and project portfolios over traditional degrees. According to the LinkedIn India Workforce Report Q1 2025, skill-based hiring rose by 24% year-on-year, particularly in BFSI, tech startups, and the gig economy. This trend is mirrored in corporate hiring frameworks. A leading Indian conglomerate in its 2025 hiring charter emphasized “adaptive capacity, learnability, and tech-enabled problem-solving” as top traits sought in new hires — a stark departure from legacy metrics like tenure or institutional pedigree.

Digital Assessments and AI-Driven Screening

Technology is playing a key role in the value pivot. Companies are increasingly adopting AI-powered platforms for resume parsing, gamified assessments, and behavioural analytics. These tools help identify high-potential candidates earlier, reducing hiring bias and improving long-term performance outcomes. As highlighted in a Deloitte India 2024 Talent Tech Trends report, 48% of Indian organizations are now integrating AI-based screening and psychometric tools in their hiring workflows, up from just 19% in 2021. This not only accelerates recruitment cycles but ensures closer alignment between candidate capability and job complexity.

Shift in Campus Hiring and Entry-Level Talent Strategy

Even at the entry level, hiring practices are changing. Traditional mass campus drives are giving way to curated partnerships with top-tier institutions, hackathons, and bootcamps. Firms are also engaging in early talent pipelining through internships, apprenticeships, and “hire-train-deploy” models. According to the India Skills Report 2025 by Wheebox and CII, over 58% of employers are revisiting their campus strategy to emphasize core skill assessments, domain readiness, and practical aptitude rather than academic scores alone.

Conclusion

India’s hiring evolution reflects a broader economic and technological recalibration. As the country aspires to be a global knowledge and innovation hub, its talent engines must prioritize value over volume. Hiring in 2025 and beyond will not just be about filling roles — it will be about building capabilities, enhancing agility, and driving sustained business impact. Organizations that embrace this value-first hiring ethos — supported by technology, data, and a growth mindset — will lead the way in the next chapter of India’s workforce journey.