-           The report sheds light on cautious hiring patterns with open positions declining by 12% between Q1 and Q3.

Careernet, India’s leading holistic talent solutions provider, released its quarterly report on the jobs trend in Semiconductor Design GCCs (Global Capability Centres) in India. The report sheds light on cautious hiring patterns in FY2025, with open requisitions declining by 12% between Q1 and Q3. This highlight evolving market dynamics and a shift in talent demand within the semiconductor design sector.
 
India's semiconductor design GCC ecosystem comprises over 180 organisations, with 70 large, mid-size, and startup players employing 1.1 lakh professionals as of H1 2024. The sector continues to grow rapidly, propelled by a robust engineering talent pool and supportive government initiatives such as the India Semiconductor Mission.
 
Focusing on 70 large, midsize, and startup semiconductor design GCCs, Careernet’s report provides a comprehensive analysis of active roles in the top 50 GCCs from Q1 to Q3 of FY2025. The sector experienced an overall decline in hiring throughout FY2025. In Q1, the average monthly open positions stood at 3,684 but dropped by 7% in Q2 to 3,435 positions. This downward trend continued into Q3, with another 5% decline, averaging 3,257 open positions. Month-on-month variations highlight a significant dip of 10% in August, followed by a modest recovery with a 6% increase in December. These trends indicate cautious hiring strategies amid market uncertainties.
 
The report outlines significant hiring trends across organisational sizes. Small organisations, employing fewer than 1,000 people, exhibited early optimism, with hiring growth peaking at 9-10% in May and June. However, Q3 saw a sharp downturn, with an 18% drop in December. Mid-sized organisations (1,000–5,000 employees) maintained a cautious stance throughout the year, with only minor growth in December. In contrast, large organisations (over 5,000 employees) displayed resilience, achieving an 11% hiring increase in December after earlier declines.
 
Role-specific demand across the sector highlights the continued importance of specialised skills. Design-focused roles such as Design Engineers, Verification Engineers, and System Architects remain critical, alongside manufacturing roles like Process Engineers, Equipment Engineers, and Technicians. The R&D domain continues to attract talent specialising in Materials Science, Quantum Computing, and Nano Technology, emphasising the industry’s innovation-driven nature.
 
Commenting on the report, Mr. Neelabh Shukla, Chief Business Officer, Careernet said, “While hiring trends suggest caution in FY2025, the semiconductor GCC sector is well-positioned for long-term growth. Driven by global demand for semiconductor technology in devices and electric vehicles, the sector is projected to create significant job opportunities in India over the next five years. Startups and small organisations are navigating uncertainties, while larger companies are leveraging their scale to invest in talent for future growth.”
 
Semiconductor Design GCCs currently account for 4% of India’s total GCC ecosystem, growing steadily at 7% over the past two decades. This growth is bolstered by India’s cost advantages, skilled workforce, and the rising demand for electronics in sectors such as telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics.