Demand for AI governance, cybersecurity roles in India shows a notable surge: Report
New Delhi, Dec 17
India’s technology workforce is entering a decisive new phase, with a surge in AI governance roles, an acceleration in cybersecurity hiring, and a rise of tier‑2 cities as digital talent engines, a report said on Wednesday.
The report from tech solutions provider Randstad said that foundational skills such as Java, Salesforce, and Agile still account for nearly one‑third of IT roles, but demand is surging for AI‑enabled and governance‑focused functions.
Demand for AI and machine learning engineers, data scientists, and AI governance specialists is set to surge in 2026, while cybersecurity is being reshaped by AI-driven threats, it said.
Companies are forced to rebuild security operations, creating new opportunities for forensic analysts, AI security experts, ethical hackers, and incident responders.
"Skills in large language model orchestration, prompt engineering, and human-AI interaction are seeing double-digit growth, ensuring that AI systems remain accurate, secure, and context-aware," the report noted.
"We are witnessing the most profound redefinition of work in a generation. By 2026, ubiquitous AI and deeper human–machine collaboration will make every role a technology role. AI is no longer a support technology, but the strategic foundation of business," Randstad Digital India Managing Director Milind Shah said.
Organisations today need professionals who can not only build AI systems but also govern and secure them responsibly — balancing innovation with ethics, compliance, and trust, he added.
Randstad highlighted that Assisted AI, Augmented AI, and Autonomous Intelligence AI require distinct expertise, with growing demand for the workforce in prompt engineering and Cloud FinOps.
Cloud FinOps expertise is increasingly sought as companies seek to optimise cloud spending within AI-enabled infrastructures, it noted.
Bengaluru leads the demand for AI talent with 35.88 per cent share, followed by Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai, and tier‑2 cities, including Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Indore, Jaipur, and Kochi, are emerging as specialised talent hubs.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While the demand surge is real, I hope the focus on "governance" and "ethics" isn't just corporate jargon. We need proper frameworks and regulations from the government to ensure AI is developed responsibly in India, not just left to company policies. The skill shift is necessary, but so is strong policy.
Cloud FinOps mentioned here is a game-changer. So many Indian startups and even large IT services companies bleed money on poorly managed cloud costs, especially with new AI workloads. This is a solid, high-value career path for finance-minded techies.
Working in cybersecurity in Hyderabad, the part about AI-driven threats reshaping our field is 100% accurate. The attack vectors are evolving daily. The demand for forensic analysts and incident responders is huge, but the talent pool is still catching up. Upskilling is no longer optional.
Good to see Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam on the list! 🎉 This decentralization is crucial for balanced growth and can ease the immense pressure on Bengaluru's infrastructure. Hope more companies set up serious AI/cybersecurity centers in these emerging hubs.
The report says foundational skills like Java still account for a third of roles. This is a key point for students and career-changers. Don't abandon the core to chase every new trend. A strong foundation in programming and systems thinking will always be valuable, even in an AI-dominated future.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.