NEW DELHI — Hiring for artificial‑intelligence (AI) roles in India rose 16% year‑on‑year in June, while the broader information‑technology (IT) job market contracted by 3%, according to the latest JobSpeak report released by online recruitment platform Naukri.com.
The monthly report, which analyses more than 2 million job postings posted on the portal, indicates that AI‑related vacancies increased from 57,000 in June 2023 to 66,200 in June 2024. In contrast, total IT openings fell from 1.04 million to 1.01 million over the same period.
“Demand for AI talent is outpacing the overall IT hiring trend, reflecting heightened corporate focus on machine‑learning, data‑science and generative‑AI capabilities,” the report states. Companies across sectors—including finance, e‑commerce, and healthcare—are cited as the primary drivers of the surge.
The report also highlights a widening skills gap. While AI job listings grew, the pool of qualified candidates remained limited, prompting firms to raise salary offers by an average of 12% compared with non‑AI IT roles. Naukri’s data shows that senior AI positions such as “AI/ML Engineer” and “Data Scientist” now command median annual salaries of ₹18‑20 lakh, up from ₹16 lakh a year earlier.
Overall IT recruitment, however, continued to feel the impact of broader macro‑economic headwinds. The report attributes the 3% decline to reduced spending on legacy system upgrades and slower expansion in traditional software services, which have been constrained by tighter corporate budgets and cautious capital‑allocation decisions.
Industry analysts say the divergent trends underscore a structural shift in India’s tech labour market. “Enterprises are reallocating resources toward AI‑centric projects, even as they trim hiring for conventional IT functions,” said Rohan Mehta, a senior analyst at research firm IDC India. “This could accelerate upskilling initiatives but also exacerbate talent shortages in emerging AI domains.”
Naukri’s JobSpeak report recommends that firms invest in targeted training programs and partner with educational institutions to expand AI curricula, aiming to bridge the supply‑demand gap. It also advises job seekers to acquire certifications in popular AI frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch to improve employability.
The data reflects a broader global pattern where AI talent demand outstrips supply, prompting policymakers to consider incentives for skill development. India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has recently announced a pilot scheme to fund AI‑focused courses, though implementation details remain pending.
Analysis:
The rise in AI hiring amid a contraction in overall IT recruitment suggests a reorientation of corporate priorities toward high‑growth, data‑driven technologies. While the report’s figures are based on Naukri’s extensive job‑posting database, they may not capture vacancies posted on other platforms or internal hiring pipelines, which could slightly alter the magnitude of the trends. Nonetheless, the consistent year‑on‑year growth in AI listings points to a sustained demand that could reshape talent pipelines and wage dynamics in India’s tech sector.
Sources
– “AI hiring outpaces overall IT recruitment in India, report shows,” The Hindu, June 2024, https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/ai-hiring-outpaces-overall-it-recruitment-in-india-report-shows/article71181709.ece
Story synopsis gathered from: The Hindu – National — source
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