White-collar hiring rises 5 pc in July, AI jobs surge 33 pc: Report
New Delhi, Aug 3
India's white-collar hiring grew 5 per cent year-on-year in July aided by sustained demand for artificial intelligence talent and a recovery in information technology recruitment, according to a report released on Monday.
According to an analysis of Naukri, the JobSpeak index stood at 3,227 in July, up from 3,074 in the same month last year, indicating a positive start to the second quarter of the current financial year.
AI and machine learning (AI/ML) roles remained the fastest-growing segment as recorded a 33 per cent year-on-year increase in hiring.
However, the trend has continued for over two years, making AI/ML the strongest-performing segment in the white-collar job market.
Moreover, IT and software services hiring rose 6 per cent from a year earlier after an uneven run over the past year, with growth led by Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru. Within the sector, hiring for AI roles increased 30 per cent, while demand for IT and information security professionals grew 23 per cent.
While insurance emerged as the top-performing sector with a 10 per cent increase in hiring, followed by real estate at 8 per cent.
Healthcare and FMCG also reported healthy demand, while hiring declined in telecom, banking and financial services, pharma, hospitality and education.
"The July hiring trends point to a market that is steadily gaining momentum. Growth in IT hiring, sustained demand for AI talent and continued expansion in fresher recruitment indicate that employers are investing in both future-ready skills and workforce expansion," Hitesh Oberoi, Managing Director and CEO of Info Edge (India) Ltd, said.
In addition, fresher hiring remained resilient and grew 6 per cent year-on-year in July.
Similarly, recruitment increased across most mid- and senior-level experience bands, reflecting broad-based hiring momentum.
City-wise, Kolkata recorded the highest hiring growth at 17 per cent, followed by Hyderabad at 16 per cent, Chennai at 11 per cent and Bengaluru at 8 per cent, while hiring in Mumbai and Delhi remained flat.
Additionally, global Capability Centre (GCC) hiring also grew 5 per cent year-on-year, led by Chennai and Hyderabad, while demand for experienced AI professionals and high-paying AI roles continued to remain strong.
— IANS
Reader Comments
AI jobs surging 33% is no surprise - every company wants to jump on the bandwagon. But what about the people who've been in traditional IT roles for 10+ years? They can't all become ML engineers overnight. The government and industry need to focus on upskilling the existing workforce, not just celebrating flashy numbers.
Happy to see Hyderabad and Chennai leading the growth! It's about time south Indian cities get their due recognition in the tech sector. The IT corridor in Hyderabad is buzzing with new offices. Hopefully this translates to better infrastructure and commuting options too. 😄
Fresher hiring up 6% - that's the most important stat here! As someone who mentors college students, I know the anxiety they face looking for that first job. But let's not overlook that telecom, banking, and pharma are seeing declines. It's a mixed bag really. Some sectors are thriving while others are struggling.
The AI surge is real, but I wish the report also mentioned the salary disparity. My friend works as an AI engineer with 3 years experience and earns close to what a 10-year veteran in QA earns. These numbers are creating a divide within the industry. Upskilling is important, but so is fair compensation for traditional roles.
Kolkata at 17% growth? That's a welcome change! The eastern city has been lagging behind for decades in tech jobs. Would love to see more companies set up centers there. Also, good to see insurance and real estate doing well - shows the economy isn't just IT-dependent anymore.