Synopsis
While US tech firms cut thousands of jobs due to AI-led efficiency, hiring remains strong in India, the Philippines and Brazil, where lower costs give a commercial edge. Senior engineers in Bengaluru cost $52,000 versus $280,000 in California. Hiring in India is expected to grow further in 2026.Their equivalent in Bengaluru, along with a paid subscription to AI tools such as Cursor or Claude, costs $52,000 on average. That ‘AI+India/Philippines/ Brazil’ equation is working in favour of candidates in these countries.
In the first three months of 2026, nearly 60,000 tech workers have been laid off globally, yet markets such as India have remained largely insulated. FAANMG — Facebook/Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Google — added a net 32,000 employees in India last year.
Overall, global tech hiring in India is expected to rise further in 2026, according to some staffing firms.
