The report shows that AI recruitment is outpacing overall IT recruitment in India

Tata Consultancy Services, the country’s largest software exporter, said last month it expected IT companies to slow hiring (File) | Photo credit: REUTERS

A survey on Friday showed that hiring for AI positions in India’s IT sector outpaced overall hiring in the industry, indicating a push by companies to reorient in the face of evolving technology.

According to Naukri’s monthly JobSpeak report, which aggregates job openings from more than 150,000 companies on its website, AI hiring in the sector rose 16% year-over-year in June, while overall IT jobs fell 3%.

India’s $315 billion IT industry ⁠is under pressure as clients hold back technology spending due to a weak macroeconomic environment and the advent of AI, which threatens their traditional business model.

“The gap (between AI and overall IT hiring) is important because it shows where technology companies are still investing. AI is increasingly becoming a core capability area, especially as demand shifts towards more senior and specialized talent,” said Hitesh Oberoi, CEO of Info Edge, which owns Naukri.

The country’s largest software exporter, Tata Consultancy Services, said last month that it expected IT companies to slow hiring, with the Tata Group moving towards an equal number of employees and AI agents in its workforce.

Last July, the firm cut more than 12,000 jobs, while the number of employees fell by more than 23,000 on a net basis in the fiscal year ending in March 2026. AI and machine learning jobs increased by 25% in 14 industries, the report added. The insurance and consumer goods sector showed the largest increase in job recruitment during this period.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 10:56 IST