Great Learning’s Upskilling Report (FY24) observed that 74 per cent of professionals with an engineering background believe their roles are being disrupted by technological advancements and AI
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With hiring in core IT and software roles slowing due to global economic uncertainties, industry experts recommend that graduates from computer science and IT streams seek opportunities beyond traditional tech jobs. Emerging sectors such as healthcare technology, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing and the space economy are attracting this talent with the promise of steady demand, government and private investment and long-term skill development.
In July, when Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced plans to lay off 12,000 employees, or 2 per cent of its global workforce, it sent ripples of anxiety across the engineering talent pool. Great Learning’s Upskilling Report (FY24) observed that 74 per cent of professionals with an engineering background believe their roles are being disrupted by technological advancements and AI.
“While some sectors are crying for good talent, everyone is waiting for the IT industry to open up and create more jobs. Indian IT will never go back to hiring 6 lakh freshers every year. To avoid this, Indian students must branch out. In Tier II and Tier III cities, many parents take loans to send their children to engineering colleges, hoping they will secure overseas assignments and earn in dollars or euros. However, that dream has largely faded over the past 2-3 years, as on-site opportunities have dropped to around 25 per cent,” said Neeti Sharma, the CEO of TeamLease Digital.
According to Mamta Jani, founder of Ontrack Education, students are increasingly realising that a safe degree in computer science is no longer a guaranteed ticket to a thriving IT career. Instead, they are leaning towards future-critical sectors such as AI, data science, cybersecurity and cloud engineering, which are inherently part of the next wave of global industries.
Sectors such as renewable energy, care-tech, fintech and advanced manufacturing have surpassed conventional IT in their recruitment of recent graduates. These industries are also committed to developing skills, giving rise to more sustainable career paths for new talent.
“A paradigm shift is the increasing allure of interdisciplinary tech sectors that incorporate tech into science, policy or design thinking. These are not only high-growth sectors, but also resilient to the cyclic downturns that traditional IT faces,” she said.
Mamta Shekhawat, founder of Gradding.com, added that multidisciplinary domains that unite AI with sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and finance are anticipated to sustain their popularity and, by extension, their labour market vitality.
Healthcare technology is growing with better AI-based medical tests, online doctor consultations and wearable smart health devices. Clean energy and EVs are surging in scale due to climate promises, while semiconductor-making is being ramped up to a national priority with India’s push for chip independence.
Sectors such as AgriTech are hiring talent for AI-driven crop monitoring and supply chain optimisation, while the space economy is attracting engineers, designers, and data scientists following ISRO’s recent milestones.
Demand for engineering
However, demand for engineering persists with fields such as electrical and electronics engineering, mechatronics and sustainable energy engineering witnessing demand, driven by the convergence of automation and green technology agendas.
“Recruiters are seeking individuals who can integrate digital competencies with business acumen, design principles, regulatory insight, or other field-specific knowledge. A mechanical engineer proficient in machine learning, or a public-health graduate trained in statistical programming, often outpaces a candidate holding only a conventional computer-science degree. This trend signifies an evolving demand for problem-solvers who can fuse technological command with contextual understanding,” Shekhawat shared.
The Indian government is actively supporting growth in areas such as semiconductor and quantum computing through a series of incentive-driven policies and strategic programmes — initiatives expected to generate significant employment opportunities.
India Semiconductor Mission
In 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) with a ₹76,000 crore outlay to boost fabrication, design and manufacturing. The project is expected to create over 20,000 direct and indirect skilled jobs within the country. The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved by the Union Cabinet, with a budget allocation of ₹6,003.65 crore.
While the IT slowdown acted as a wake-up call, the driver of this long-term transformation is the convergence of industries and technologies. Careers of the next decade will emerge at the intersections — AI with climate science, robotics with geriatric care, and data analytics with behavioural psychology.
Published on August 15, 2025
