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AI Hiring Boom: India to Add 3.8 Lakh AI Jobs in 2026, Says Report

Artificial Intelligence defined India's hiring landscape in 2025, with over 290,000 AI-linked roles posted according to a foundit report. The momentum is accelerating, with AI hiring projected to grow 32% year-on-year in 2026, reaching nearly 380,000 positions. The IT-Software sector held the largest share of these jobs, while skills in Generative AI and Large Language Models saw demand surge by nearly 60%. Bengaluru remained the top hub for AI jobs, with strong growth also seen in Hyderabad and emerging Tier 2 cities like Jaipur and Indore.

Key Points: AI Job Surge in India: 32% Growth Projected for 2026

  • 290,256 AI roles posted in 2025
  • 32% hiring growth projected for 2026
  • IT-Software leads with 37% share of AI jobs
  • GenAI & LLM skills demand up 60% YoY
2 min read

Hiring surges across India as AI-linked jobs rise exponentially

India's AI job market soared in 2025 with 290,256 roles. Hiring is projected to grow 32% in 2026, led by IT, BFSI, and GenAI skills.

Hiring surges across India as AI-linked jobs rise exponentially
"AI is no longer experimental; it is central to workforce planning. - Tarun Sharma"

Bengaluru, Jan 13

Artificial Intelligence emerged as the defining hiring force in 2025 in India, with 290,256 AI-linked roles posted last year, a report showed on Tuesday.

This momentum is set to accelerate further, with AI hiring projected to grow 32 per cent year-on-year in 2026 to nearly 3.8 lakh roles, said the report by foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME).

India's job market closed 2025 with renewed confidence, clocking sustained hiring growth across sectors, roles and cities.

Hiring activity rose 5 per cent month-on-month and 15 per cent (on-year), signalling a clear shift from cautious recovery to measured expansion.

"2025 was both a year of expansion and discipline in hiring," said Tarun Sharma, Chief Product and Technology officer, foundit.

AI is no longer experimental; it is central to workforce planning. In 2026, hiring will be increasingly skills-led, mid-career-focused, and spread across both Tier 1 and emerging Tier 2 talent hubs, he mentioned.

This convergence of core industries and AI adoption will continue to position India as a global talent powerhouse.

IT-Software and Services held the largest share of AI jobs at 37 per cent, followed by BFSI (15.8 per cent) and Manufacturing (6 per cent).​

BFSI recorded 41 per cent YoY growth, while Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals (38 per cent), Retail (31 per cent), Logistics (30 per cent), and Telecom (29 per cent) posted strong gains, said the report.

Generative AI and LLM skills showed the fastest growth, with demand rising nearly 60 per cent YoY -- driven by copilots, chatbots, and enterprise GenAI platforms.

Bengaluru retained leadership with a 26 per cent share of AI jobs. Hyderabad recorded the fastest Tier 1 growth, while Jaipur, Indore and Mysuru led Tier 2 gains.

The general job market in 2025 showed the strongest growth in the mid-level and senior mid-tier brackets, indicating employer focus on professionals with proven execution experience - but not at the highest leadership level, said the report.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Good to see Tier 2 cities like Jaipur and Indore gaining traction. This will help reduce the immense pressure on Bengaluru and create more balanced development across the country. Hope the infrastructure keeps pace!
R
Rohit P
While the numbers look impressive, I have a respectful criticism. The article focuses on quantity, but what about the quality of these roles? Are they offering competitive salaries, or is this just a bulk hiring trend with high attrition? The focus on mid-career is good, but fresh grads need a pathway too.
S
Sarah B
The growth in BFSI and Healthcare is particularly interesting. It shows AI is moving beyond just tech companies into the core of our economy. This is where real, scalable impact happens.
K
Karthik V
The 60% YoY growth for GenAI skills is mind-blowing! But it also creates a fear of becoming obsolete quickly. Which courses would you all recommend for a software engineer with 5 years experience to stay relevant? 🤔
M
Meera T
This is a positive sign for India's tech future. However, we must ensure this growth is inclusive. We need more initiatives to bring women and talent from smaller towns into this AI wave. The potential is huge if we get it right.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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