AI Skills Reshape Entry-Level Jobs as IT-BPM Fresher Hiring Recovers

India’s IT-BPM sector is expected to hire around 2.1 lakh freshers in FY27 as recruitment recovers from a decline in entry-level hiring. However, employers are increasingly seeking graduates with AI skills and expertise in data engineering, cybersecurity and other specialised technology areas.

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Fresher Hiring Expected to Recover in FY27

According to industry estimates cited in ET report, fresher hiring in the IT-BPM sector declined from around 4 lakh in FY22 to an estimated 1.75 lakh in FY26. Hiring is projected to increase to 2.1 lakh in FY27, indicating a recovery in demand for entry-level talent.

IT services companies are expected to account for a significant share of fresher recruitment, while Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are emerging as another important source of opportunities.

Hiring patterns are also changing as companies focus on specialised technology roles rather than relying only on large-scale recruitment for traditional entry-level positions.

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AI Skills Command Higher Entry-Level Salaries

The shift towards specialised hiring is also affecting fresher salaries. According to HAN Digital’s IT-BPM Graduate Hiring Outlook 2027, select specialised engineering roles in AI, data engineering, cybersecurity and enterprise technology at leading IT services companies may offer annual packages ranging from ₹12 lakh to ₹22 lakh.

Also Read: 88% of HR Leaders Yet to See Significant Business Value from AI

This is significantly higher than the ₹3 lakh to ₹4 lakh annual salary range that has largely prevailed across the broader IT-enabled services sector. The report also points to Infosys’ plan to offer packages of up to ₹21 lakh for certain specialised technology roles.

Employers increasingly expect fresh graduates to work with AI tools, check their outputs and apply technology to business problems. Opportunities are also emerging in AI testing, data annotation and model operations.

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Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President at Nasscom, said hiring requirements are becoming more focused on AI capabilities, with new opportunities also emerging as data centres expand.

Fresher Hiring Expands Beyond Major Cities

Bengaluru remains the leading destination for fresher recruitment, accounting for an estimated 25% of onboarding. Delhi-NCR accounts for 17%, followed by Hyderabad at 16% and Chennai at 15%.

Hiring in Tier II and Tier III cities is also growing, with recruitment in these locations reported to be increasing by 35% year-on-year. Coimbatore, Jaipur, Kochi, Indore, Ahmedabad and Visakhapatnam are attracting fresh graduates as GCCs and IT services companies expand their presence beyond major metropolitan areas.

What This Means for Fresh Graduates

The projected recovery in hiring is encouraging, but the skills required for entry-level jobs are changing. Graduates with practical AI knowledge, data skills, cybersecurity expertise and the ability to solve business problems may have access to more specialised opportunities.

For employers and educational institutions, the findings underline the need to align graduate training with changing workplace requirements.

As routine tasks become increasingly automated, practical skills and the ability to work effectively with AI tools are becoming important considerations in fresher recruitment.