AI/ML Hiring Jumps 20% as White-Collar Market Stays Steady
New report shows a 20% surge in AI/ML hiring in September as the job market shifts toward specialized skills and experienced professionals.
The demand for specialized tech talent is surging in India. According to the latest Naukri JobSpeak report, hiring for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) roles saw a significant 20 per cent year-on-year increase in September, even as the broader white-collar job market remained largely stable.
Shift Toward Specialized Skills and Experience
While the overall hiring landscape showed resilience, the data suggests a clear pivot in what employers are looking for. The Naukri JobSpeak Index rose by 2 per cent year-on-year to reach 3,053 in September, up from 3,002 a year ago.
Hitesh Oberoi, Managing Director and CEO of Info Edge (India) Ltd, noted that while the market remains steady, it is becoming increasingly selective. “While overall hiring was broadly stable, demand continued to move towards specialised skills, particularly AI, and more experienced professionals,” Oberoi stated. He added that hiring trends are increasingly being dictated by specific business and capability requirements across different sectors and cities.
The Experience Gap: Senior Talent in High Demand
The report highlights a massive appetite for seasoned professionals within the AI/ML domain. The demand for high-level expertise is significantly outstripping the demand for entry-level roles:
- 13-16 years experience: 54 per cent increase in AI/ML hiring.
- 8-12 years experience: 28 per cent increase in AI/ML hiring.
- Freshers: 19 per cent growth in AI/ML hiring.
This trend extends to the broader job market as well. Professionals with 8-12 years of experience saw a 5 per cent growth, while those with 13-16 years and 16+ years of experience saw increases of 7 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. In contrast, fresher hiring across the general market grew by only 1 per cent, and the 4-7 years experience category saw a 2 per cent decline.
Sectoral Performance: Winners and Losers
The September data reveals a mixed bag across various industries. While technology-driven sectors and specific industries are thriving, others are facing headwinds.
Growth Drivers
- Auto Sector: 11 per cent growth.
- BPO/ITES: 4 per cent growth.
- Global Capability Centres (GCC): 4 per cent growth.
The growth in GCC hiring was particularly concentrated in specific urban hubs. Hyderabad led the way with a 23 per cent year-on-year increase, followed by Chennai at 13 per cent and Pune at 11 per cent.
Declining Sectors
Not all sectors shared this momentum. The report noted a 4 per cent year-on-year decline in overall IT and software services hiring. Furthermore, the Hospitality/Travel sector saw an 11 per cent drop, while the Education sector experienced a sharper decline of 18 per cent.
As the market evolves, current trends suggest that future hiring growth may remain concentrated in specialized technical skills and highly experienced talent rather than being distributed broadly across all sectors and experience levels.