Every few months, headlines say:

• “Tech Layoffs Continue”
• “IT Companies Reduce Workforce”
• “Hiring Freeze in Big Tech”

If you are a fresher planning to enter IT, one question naturally comes up:

👉 Is software development still safe in 2026?
👉 Or is the IT job market collapsing?

Let’s analyze this logically — not emotionally.

1️⃣ Are IT Layoffs Really That Bad?

Yes — layoffs happened in:

• Big US tech companies
• Funded startups
• Over-hired pandemic teams

But here’s the key:

Layoffs ≠ industry collapse.

Most layoffs happened because:

• Over-hiring during 2020–2022
• Funding slowdown
• Cost cutting
• Automation improvements

At the same time:

• AI roles increased
• Cloud roles increased
• Cybersecurity hiring increased
• SaaS product companies still hiring

The market corrected — it didn’t die.

2️⃣ Which Roles Are Actually Affected?

Not all IT roles are equally impacted.

Most affected:

• Low-skill support roles
• Manual testing
• Non-technical roles
• Overstaffed startups

Less affected:

• Backend developers
• Cloud engineers
• DevOps engineers
• AI/ML engineers
• Cybersecurity analysts

Skill depth matters more than ever.

3️⃣ Should Freshers Still Choose Software Development?

Short answer: Yes — but with strategy.

Don’t enter IT blindly because:

“IT pays well.”

Enter because:

• You enjoy problem-solving
• You are ready to build real skills
• You are ready to compete

The market rewards strong candidates.

4️⃣ Salary Reality in 2026 After Layoffs

Freshers today:

Skill Level	Salary Range
Basic course only	₹3–4 LPA
Strong backend projects	₹6–9 LPA
Cloud + DevOps + projects	₹8–12 LPA
Product company hire	₹12–18 LPA

Layoffs did not remove high-paying roles.

They removed weak candidates first.

5️⃣ Why IT Still Has Long-Term Demand

Look at fundamentals:

✔ Digital transformation continues
✔ Businesses depend on software
✔ SaaS is growing
✔ AI integration increasing
✔ Cybersecurity threats rising

Companies cannot operate without software teams.

Demand is structural, not hype-based.

6️⃣ What Freshers Must Do Differently in 2026

Old approach (fails):

• Complete course
• Add certificate
• Apply randomly

New approach (works):

✔ Pick one stack
✔ Build 3–5 real projects
✔ Learn deployment
✔ Practice SQL
✔ Prepare DSA basics
✔ Do mock interviews

Market is competitive — not dead.

7️⃣ Is IT Saturated?

No.

But entry-level generic candidates are oversupplied.

If you are:

• Average
• Shallow skill
• No projects

You struggle.

If you are:

• Skilled
• Project-driven
• Deployment-aware

You get offers.

8️⃣ Better Strategy for 2026 Freshers

Instead of generic “software developer,” choose focused paths:

• Backend + Cloud
• Full Stack + Deployment
• DevOps + Automation
• Cybersecurity
• AI + MLOps

Specialization reduces competition.

9️⃣ Risk Comparison: IT vs Other Careers

Compared to:

• Core mechanical jobs
• Pure government preparation
• Random MBA

IT still offers:

• Remote opportunities
• Faster salary growth
• Global market access
• Switching flexibility

Few industries offer that.

🔟 Final Verdict: Should Freshers Choose IT in 2026?

Yes — but not casually.

If you:

✔ Build strong projects
✔ Focus on one domain
✔ Prepare properly
✔ Keep learning

IT remains one of the highest ROI career paths in India.