Reverse Migration from US: Indian Tech Job Market Not Improving, Survey Says

With visa uncertainties looming in the United States, a growing number of Indian professionals are returning home. However, a new survey suggests this homecoming is not easing the job market for India's technology workforce. The survey, conducted by Blind—an anonymous community app for professionals—indicates that many returnees are being rehired by US tech giants at significantly lower salaries, intensifying competition for local job seekers.

According to the survey, 53 per cent of 1,276 verified professionals in India reported witnessing reverse migration from the US due to visa-related concerns. Of these, 36 per cent said colleagues or job candidates had already returned to India, while another 17 per cent knew people planning to relocate. The trend is most visible at large multinational technology firms: 57 per cent of Amazon employees, 58 per cent at Walmart, and 55 per cent at Uber reported seeing colleagues return from the US. These companies are also expanding their Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India, which often hire experienced returnees.

Despite the influx of skilled professionals and the growth of GCCs, the domestic job market has become more competitive rather than more promising. More than half (51 per cent) of respondents said job opportunities in their roles had declined over the past year. Only 26 per cent saw an increase, while 23 per cent said the market remained unchanged. The survey underscores a disconnect: while GCCs expand, new job creation for the broader workforce is limited, as many positions are filled by returning professionals with experience at the same multinational firms. This allows companies to lower labour costs while retaining institutional knowledge.

A Google professional quoted in the survey noted that 'average pay has gone down in the last six months' and that salaries in India are roughly one-fifth of comparable US compensation. For employees, returning to India offers visa certainty and continued employment within the same organisation. For employers, it means reduced salary expenses by shifting roles to India.

The impact varies across technology fields. Professionals in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning appear relatively shielded: 42 per cent reported fewer opportunities compared to a year ago, a lower share than in other roles. In contrast, 52 per cent of software engineers, 54 per cent of product managers, and 56 per cent of data and analytics professionals said opportunities had declined. This highlights the growing demand for AI-related expertise even as hiring slows in traditional tech functions.

When asked how the wave of returning professionals could affect their careers, 40 per cent of respondents expected little or no impact. However, negative sentiment outweighed optimism: nearly 24 per cent believed returnees would compete directly for jobs they otherwise would have been qualified for, and 15 per cent felt experienced returnees would raise hiring expectations, making recruitment more competitive.