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White-Collar Hiring Up 2% in September; AI/ML Jobs Surge 20%: Naukri Report
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Storyboard•01-10-2026, 17:13
White-Collar Hiring Up 2% in September; AI/ML Jobs Surge 20%: Naukri Report
- •India's white-collar hiring saw a 2% year-over-year growth in September, with significant divergence across industries.
- •AI/ML roles experienced a substantial 20% year-over-year surge, highlighting strong demand for specialized technology skills.
- •The automotive sector led sectoral growth with an 11% increase, particularly strong in southern cities like Hyderabad (26%), Chennai (19%), and Bengaluru (18%).
- •Hiring for experienced professionals (16+ years) grew 5%, with auto and BPO/ITES sectors showing strong demand for senior talent.
- •Global Capability Centres (GCCs) expanded their hiring footprint, especially in southern India, with Hyderabad GCC hiring up 23% and Chennai 13%.
Key Questions Answered
India's white-collar hiring market recorded a 2% year-on-year growth in September 2026, according to the Naukri Jobspeak report.
The automotive sector emerged as one of the strongest-performing industries, with hiring growing by 11% year-on-year in September 2026.
AI/ML roles experienced a strong 20% year-on-year surge in growth during September 2026, standing out as one of the most robust areas of demand amidst broader IT hiring contractions.
