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76% Indian Recruiters Plan New Jobs in H1 2026; Healthcare Leads Hiring

A new Naukri.com survey indicates strong hiring intent among Indian recruiters for the first half of 2026, with 76% planning to create new jobs. The healthcare sector is projected to lead job creation at 88%, followed closely by manufacturing at 79%. Contrary to fears, 87% of recruiters believe AI will not significantly reduce employment and may instead generate new roles in IT, analytics, and marketing. The hiring demand is strongest for entry-to-mid-level professionals, with healthcare focusing on fresh talent and IT on mid-level experience.

Key Points: India H1 2026 Hiring Outlook: 76% Recruiters to Create Jobs

  • 76% recruiters focused on new job creation
  • Healthcare leads with 88% new jobs
  • AI expected to create roles, not cut jobs
  • Hiring favors entry-to-mid level professionals
2 min read

76 pc Indian recruiters to create new jobs in H1 2026; healthcare, manufacturing to lead: Report

Naukri report reveals 76% of Indian recruiters will create new jobs in H1 2026, led by healthcare (88%) and manufacturing (79%). AI seen as job creator.

"AI is emerging as a catalyst for new role creation, especially in technology, analytics, and marketing functions. - Dr. Pawan Goyal"

New Delhi, Jan 23

About 76 per cent recruiters in India are focussed on job creation across various sectors in the first half of 2026, according to a report.

Naukri India's bi-annual survey, based on insights of over 1,250 recruiters, showed that the healthcare sector is set to lead with 88 per cent new jobs.

The manufacturing sector is set to follow with 79 per cent new roles in H1 2026.

The BFSI sector is likely to show a relatively conservative yet strong hiring outlook (70 per cent), and IT sector (76 per cent) will create jobs.

"With 76% of recruiters focused on new job creation, the H1 2026 Hiring Outlook reflects sustained confidence in India's job market," said Dr. Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer at Naukri.com.

At an overall level, IT and Business Development roles are expected to witness the highest hiring activity during H1 2026; with 45 per cent recruiters in each sector anticipating the same (up from 37 per cent & 20 per cent recruiters respectively) in H2 2025.

Further, despite widespread concerns about AI-driven job losses, 87 per cent of recruiters believe AI will not have a significant impact on overall employment.

In fact, compared to the previous Hiring Outlook survey, where 13 per cent of recruiters predicted AI-led job creation, 18 per cent of recruiters now expect AI to create new roles, mainly across IT, analytics, and marketing.

"Importantly, AI is emerging as a catalyst for new role creation, especially in technology, analytics, and marketing functions. This evolution highlights the importance of continuous upskilling as organisations prepare for the next phase of workforce transformation," Goyal said.

Meanwhile, hiring demand is expected to continue favouring entry-to mid-level professionals, with IT and manufacturing leading mid-level hiring and healthcare driving entry-level roles.

Notably, 69 per cent of IT recruiters expect the highest demand for mid-level professionals (4-7 yrs of experience), while 65 per cent of healthcare recruiters plan to hire from the 0-3 years' experience band, emphasising a push toward fresh talent in the sector, the report said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the overall outlook is positive, I'm a bit skeptical about the IT sector's 76% figure. Many of my colleagues are still facing a hiring freeze. The report mentions mid-level hiring, but what about the experienced professionals being laid off? The reality on the ground feels different.
R
Rohit P
Finally some good news on the job front! The manufacturing push aligns perfectly with the government's 'Make in India' initiative. This could be a game-changer for our economic growth. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
The AI part is the most interesting. 87% of recruiters don't think it will cause significant job losses, and 18% even expect it to create roles. This is a crucial message for students and professionals – stop fearing AI and start learning how to work with it. Upskilling is the key.
V
Vikram M
Healthcare at 88% is leading for a reason. Post-pandemic, the focus on building a robust health infrastructure is clear. This will create not just doctors and nurses, but also technicians, admin staff, and tech roles for health-tech. A very promising sector for the next decade.
K
Karthik V
Good to see BFSI holding strong at 70%. It's often overlooked but is a massive employer. The stability there is reassuring. Hope the new jobs also come with good work-life balance, not just numbers.

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