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AI Hiring Soars 20% as India's White-Collar Job Market Demands Specialized Skills
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CNBC TV18•01-10-2026, 17:58
AI Hiring Soars 20% as India's White-Collar Job Market Demands Specialized Skills
- •Hiring in AI/ML surged over 20% year-on-year in September, while IT and software services recruitment dropped 4%.
- •Overall white-collar hiring in India grew by a modest 2% year-on-year in September, reaching a Naukri JobSpeak index of 3,053.
- •Employers are becoming more selective, prioritizing specialized skills and experienced professionals, with demand for freshers slowing significantly.
- •Hiring for professionals with 0-3 years of experience grew only 1%, a sharp decline from 15% in August, while those with 13-15 years saw a 7% increase.
- •The auto sector remains a strong performer with 11% year-on-year growth, driven by Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
Key Questions Answered
In September, hiring in artificial intelligence and machine learning rose over 20% year-on-year, whereas recruitment in IT and software services declined by 4% according to the Naukri JobSpeak report.
Professional hiring for those with 0-3 years of experience grew by just 1%, while recruitment for the 4-7 years cohort fell 2%. Conversely, professionals with 13-15 years of experience saw stronger demand with a 7% increase.
The auto sector remained a bright spot with an 11% increase in hiring, and BPO/ITES grew by 4%. In contrast, sectors like education fell 18%, hospitality dropped 11%, and telecom declined 12%.
