EV Hiring at 4.9 Percent in FY27 As Demand Shifts to Specialised Tech Roles

Hiring momentum in India’s electric vehicle (EV) and EV infrastructure sector remains steady but is cooling slightly, signaling a transition from rapid expansion to more measured, capability-driven growth, according to the latest TeamLease Employment Outlook Report.

The report pegs the Net Employment Change (NEC) at 4.9 percent for HY1 FY27, down from 6.4 percent in the previous half-year, reflecting a shift toward efficiency and specialisation. Despite the moderation, 64 percent of employers still plan to increase hiring, while 27 percent expect no change and 9 percent anticipate reductions as companies streamline operations and adopt automation.

The outlook continues to be supported by ongoing investments in EV manufacturing, battery technology, and charging infrastructure, alongside policy backing through production-linked incentives (PLI) and EV adoption schemes. The findings are based on a survey of 1,268 employers across 23 industries and 20 cities, conducted between November 2025 and January 2026.

Demand is increasingly concentrated in high-skill, technology-led roles, with companies seeking battery engineers, power electronics specialists, EV software developers, and charging infrastructure experts. This trend underscores a broader shift toward integrated, software-driven mobility solutions.

At the same time, selective hiring cuts are emerging in certain operational roles, as automation and process optimisation reduce the need for large-scale workforce expansion. About 9 percent of employers expect hiring declines, indicating a maturing industry recalibrating its growth strategy.

The sector’s talent mix is evolving rapidly toward deep-tech and engineering-led capabilities, particularly in advanced manufacturing, embedded systems, and EV platforms. This marks a clear pivot from scale-driven hiring to innovation-focused recruitment.

Among job functions, engineering leads hiring demand (53 percent), followed by IT roles (47 percent) and sales and marketing (43 percent). Geographically, Bengaluru (23 percent), Delhi (20 percent), and Pune (18 percent) are emerging as key talent hubs for EV-related roles.

Salary growth remains robust, with average increments projected at 10.5 percent for 2026, reflecting strong demand for specialised talent.

Commenting on the trend, Balasubramanian A, Senior Vice President at TeamLease Services, said that the moderation in hiring reflects a more structured growth phase, where innovation, agility, and technology capabilities will define the sector’s future workforce strategy.