AI hiring in India's IT sector jumps 16% as overall IT recruitment dips 3%: Report
Hiring for artificial intelligence roles within India's information technology sector grew 16% year-on-year in June, while overall IT recruitment declined by 3% during the same period, according to a report by job portal Naukri. The data, published in the monthly JobSpeak report, highlights a strategic shift as companies reorient themselves in response to evolving technology.
The report, which analysed job listings from more than 150,000 firms, indicates that India's $315 billion IT industry is under pressure from clients holding back on technology spending due to a weak macroeconomic environment and the rise of AI, which threatens traditional business models.
“The divergence between AI and overall IT hiring is important because it shows where tech companies are still investing. AI is increasingly becoming a core capability area, especially as demand shifts towards more senior and specialised talent,” said Hitesh Oberoi, chief executive officer of Info Edge, which owns Naukri.
India's largest software exporter, Tata Consultancy Services, last month said it expects IT companies to slow hiring, with the Tata Group firm moving towards having an equal number of employees and AI agents in its workforce. In July last year, TCS cut more than 12,000 jobs, and its net headcount fell by over 23,000 in the fiscal year ended March 2026.
Across 14 sectors, AI and machine learning jobs increased by 25% in June. The insurance and consumer goods sectors showed the most significant increase in overall job hiring during the period, the report added.
