Tech jobs: Operational tech roles log 20% surge in demand

Even as hiring in the IT sector remains muted, demand for roles in operational technology (OT) has grown by as much as 20% in some sectors over the past year. This comes amid India’s increasing focus on Industry 4.0 and local manufacturing.

OT refers to the hardware and software deployed to monitor and control devices, processes and infrastructure in industrial settings.

“OT roles are on the rise, though their growth is more niche, driven by sectors such as manufacturing, energy and infrastructure. OT roles have seen a 10-15% annual growth rate, highlighting a smaller but rapidly expanding segment compared to the broader IT industry,” said Neeti Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Digital.

The roll out of 5G and rapid network expansions led to a 20% increase in OT roles in the telecom sector while the Industry 4.0 push has led to a 15-17% increase in OT roles between 2023 and 2024, data from Teamlease Digital showed.

Further, infrastructure projects, particularly the government’s smart city initiative, have spurred an 11% rise in OT hiring, Sharma said. The focus on process automation and regulatory compliance in the chemical and pharmaceuticals sector resulted in an 8-10% growth in OT positions. Smart manufacturing and autonomous vehicle technologies in the automotive sector led to a 12% increase.

“There is huge demand for skilled professionals and that is expected to grow continuously,” said Raghavendra Rengaswamy, consulting leader, EY Global Delivery Services, pointing to a range of roles such as field engineers, system integrators, cybersecurity specialists and OT network administrators.

The growing trend points to an exponential and a promising future for OT professionals, offering ample opportunities to shape the future of India’s industrial landscape, Rengaswamy added.

Hiring for network engineers, who manage and maintain the network infrastructure supporting OT systems, grew by 16% over the past year. Hiring for chief information security officers (CISOs) grew by 5% as decision-making around OT security is increasingly elevated to executive levels.

The OT market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 6.4-8.2% until 2027, even as increasing OT security intrusions have highlighted the need for better management and thus driving the employment trend, experts said.

“The increasing complexity of industrial control systems and the adoption of digital technologies are driving the demand for OT security in India,” said Raja Lahiri, partner, Grant Thornton Bharat.

As smart manufacturing and connected critical infrastructure grow, securing OT systems becomes crucial, he said, given the serious disruptions and safety concerns cyberattacks on industrial systems can pose.

OT security analysts, OT security engineers and OT security architects are key roles in demand, Lahiri said, in addition to industrial automation engineers and internet of things (IoT) specialists.

Experts noted the growing convergence between IT and OT as manufacturing and other sectors integrate OT data with IT analytics and artificial intelligence and adopt advanced technologies such a industrial internet of things (IIoT) and digital twins to simulate complex processes or aid in planning for supply chain disruptions.