India Emerges as the Primary Hiring Hub for Big Tech in 2026
A major structural shift in the global technology workforce is underway as Big Tech firms accelerate hiring in India amidst ongoing mass layoffs in the United States.
According to a comprehensive survey released on January 14, 2026, by Blind, an anonymous community for verified professionals, over half of the industry’s workforce expects a surge in Indian hiring this year.
The data was collected by Blind between January 5 and January 11, 2026, through its platform of 12 million verified professionals.
The findings underscore India’s evolution from a back-office hub to a primary functional alternative for the global tech market.
The “India First” Shift: Replacing vs. Complementing
The survey, which gathered insights from 2,392 professionals at giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Uber, and eBay, reveals that the move toward India is no longer just a supplement to U.S. operations.
Approximately 38% of respondents explicitly stated that hiring in India is now replacing U.S.-based roles, while only 23% viewed it as a complementary expansion.
Overall, 52% of companies plan to increase their Indian workforce in 2026.
This trend is most pronounced at top-tier firms; up to 93% of employees at organizations such as Salesforce, LinkedIn, and Qualcomm reported active plans for Indian expansion.
Impact of H-1B Restrictions and AI Efficiency on Hiring
External regulatory pressures are acting as a significant catalyst for this migration.
28% of professionals cited recent H-1B visa restrictions—including a new $100,000 filing fee and skill-based prioritization—as a direct reason for increased Indian offshoring.
Conversely, only 4% said these restrictions led to more hiring within the U.S.
The report also sheds light on the “AI-driven” narrative often used to explain recent layoffs. Many employees believe these cuts are strategic maneuvers to relocate roles.
As one Meta professional noted, while top-tier AI talent remains concentrated in Silicon Valley at an “unspeakable cost,” solid middle-tier roles are being moved to India to balance the books.
How Companies are Expanding
The expansion in India is taking three distinct forms:
- Scaling Existing Teams (25%): Bolstering current Global Capability Centers (GCCs).
- New Role Creation (20%): Establishing entirely new departments on Indian soil.
- Functional Reallocation (20%): Moving specific projects or entire business functions offshore.
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