From a location and salary perspective, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurgaon remain the sweet spots. Twenty-seven per cent of all popular tech roles are being paid highest in Bengaluru followed by Hyderabad at 16 per cent and Delhi and Pune at 13 per cent.

From a popular job role perspective, Data Engineer, Business Analyst and Solutions Architect remain top roles in BFSI and Consulting; UI/ UX Designer, Fullstack Developer, Game Developer in Communication Media and Technology (CMT); Graphic Designer, Data Scientist and Fullstack Developer in Retail and Consumer Business; Data Scientist, Java Developer and QA Engineer in Life Sciences and Healthcare, Embedded Software Engineer, CAD Engineer and Automation Engineer in Engineering Research & Development, and Big Data Analyst, IT Infrastructure Engineer and Software Developer in the Energy and Resources sector.

Across levels, expertise in cloud-based services, robotic automation transformation, and artificial intelligence will be in vogue. At the entry-level, employers seek proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, basic knowledge of programming languages (HTML and CSS), and experience with content management systems. Intermediate experience levels demand skills and experience with advanced programming languages (Python and Java), data analysis, visualisation tools, and cloud computing platforms. And for the senior level, there will be demand for artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain cybersecurity skill sets.

As technology integration across businesses rises, so are the women in STEM-leading tech roles. Out of 5 million, close to 1.8 million are women. Globally, India ranks second with 4 million female online learners enrolled in STEM courses such as Computer Programming, Web Development, Analytics, AI and ML, Cybersecurity and User Experience.