AI Hiring Defies the IT Downturn: Report

Hiring for artificial intelligence (AI) roles continued to grow in India’s IT sector in June, even as overall recruitment remained weak. The latest JobSpeak report by Naukri shows that companies are continuing to invest in AI talent while slowing hiring for other technology roles.

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According to the report, AI hiring in the IT sector increased 16% year-on-year in June, while overall IT hiring declined 3%. The report is based on job listings from more than 150,000 companies on Naukri’s platform.

Companies Prioritise AI Skills

India’s $315 billion IT industry has been facing slower business growth as global clients remain cautious about technology spending. At the same time, the rapid adoption of AI is changing the skills companies are looking for.

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Hitesh Oberoi, CEO of Info Edge, which owns Naukri, said the difference between AI hiring and overall IT recruitment shows where companies are investing.

According to him, AI has become a core business capability, and organisations are increasingly looking for experienced and specialised professionals instead of expanding hiring across all technology roles.

The trend is also reflected in the outlook shared by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The country’s largest IT services company recently said it expects hiring across the industry to remain slower as companies increase the use of AI.

TCS has also indicated that AI agents will become a larger part of its workforce alongside employees. Last year, the company reduced its workforce by more than 12,000 employees, while its net headcount declined by over 23,000 during the financial year ended March 2026.

AI Hiring Expands Across Industries

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The demand for AI professionals is not limited to IT companies. The report found that AI and machine learning hiring increased 25% across 14 sectors, showing that businesses across industries are investing in AI capabilities.

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Among all sectors, insurance and consumer goods recorded the strongest increase in hiring. Companies in these industries are adopting AI to improve operations, customer service, and decision-making, creating demand for professionals with AI, machine learning, and data-related skills.

The report suggests that while overall IT recruitment remains under pressure, hiring for AI roles continues to grow. For job seekers, this indicates that specialised AI skills are becoming increasingly valuable as companies shift their hiring priorities to support AI-led business transformation.

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