Job Market Update: IT Hiring Rebounds, AI Jobs Surge 33% in July

India’s white-collar job market continued to grow in July 2026, with overall hiring increasing 5% year-on-year, according to the latest Naukri JobSpeak Index.

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While the pace of hiring was slightly lower than the 6% growth recorded in June, demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) professionals remained strong, registering a 33% year-on-year increase.

IT hiring also returned to positive territory after declining in the previous month.

AI, IT and Media Lead Hiring Demand

AI and ML roles emerged as the fastest-growing technology segment, with hiring rising 33% over July 2025. The report indicates that organisations across industries are continuing to invest in AI-driven transformation, creating strong demand for professionals with specialised technology skills.

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The Information Technology (IT) sector also showed signs of recovery. After witnessing a 3% decline in June, IT hiring grew 6% year-on-year in July, reflecting improving hiring sentiment among technology companies.

Among industries, Media & Entertainment recorded the highest hiring growth at 29%, followed by Healthcare and Life Sciences at 18%. Production, Manufacturing and Engineering also maintained healthy hiring momentum with 12% growth.

Senior Professionals and Freshers See Higher Demand

Hiring remained positive across several experience levels. Demand for professionals with 13–16 years of experience increased by 12%, while hiring for candidates with over 16 years of experience rose 9%. Freshers also continued to benefit from improving recruitment activity as companies strengthened their entry-level talent pipeline.

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Geographically, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata continued to report healthy hiring growth, while several non-metro cities also witnessed increasing recruitment activity. Global Capability Centre (GCC) hiring remained largely stable, with southern cities continuing to attract investments.

Hiring Outlook Remains Positive

Commenting on the findings, Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer, Naukri, said the July data reflects a balanced hiring market where overall recruitment continues to expand despite global uncertainties.

He noted that the recovery in IT hiring, sustained growth in AI and ML roles, and increased demand for experienced professionals indicate that employers remain focused on digital transformation and specialised talent.

The latest JobSpeak report suggests that while overall white-collar hiring growth has moderated slightly, demand for AI, data and advanced technology skills continues to reshape India’s employment market.

Organisations are increasingly prioritising digital capabilities, making AI and ML among the most sought-after skills in the country’s professional job market.

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