India white-collar hiring stable in May 2026, AI/ML roles surge 22%
Synopsis
India's job market stayed calm on the surface in May 2026, but the real story is underneath: AI/ML roles paying above ₹30 lakh surged 27 per cent, senior professionals with 13-plus years of experience are in fierce demand, and emerging cities like Surat and Coimbatore are quietly outpacing Mumbai and Bengaluru on hiring growth.
Key Takeaways
The Naukri JobSpeak Index rose to 2,836 in May 2026 , up from 2,807 a year earlier.
Insurance led sectoral hiring growth at over 19 per cent YoY; BPO/ITES followed at over 9 per cent .
AI/ML roles grew 22 per cent YoY; high-paying AI roles above ₹30 lakh per annum rose 27 per cent .
Senior professionals with 13–16 years' experience saw the highest AI hiring growth at 32 per cent .
GCC hiring grew over 8 per cent across metros, led by Chennai at over 25 per cent .
Banking, IT, pharma , and telecom recorded hiring declines of 6–15 per cent during the month.
White-collar hiring in India held steady in May 2026, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index rising marginally to 2,836 from 2,807 in the same month last year, according to a report by jobs portal Naukri. The insurance sector led sectoral growth at over 19 per cent year-on-year, while AI/ML roles emerged as the standout hiring category across industries.
Sectors Leading the Hiring Uptick
Insurance posted the strongest year-on-year growth at over 19 per cent, followed by BPO/ITES at over 9 per cent. Healthcare grew at over 6 per cent and hospitality at over 5 per cent, rounding out the top four expanding sectors. In contrast, banking, telecom, pharma, IT, auto, education, and oil and gas all recorded hiring declines ranging from 6 to 15 per cent during the month. FMCG, retail, and real estate remained largely flat nationally, though the FMCG sector bucked that trend in southern markets — rising over 14 per cent in Hyderabad and over 17 per cent in Chennai.
AI/ML Roles Drive Demand for Senior Talent
AI and machine learning hiring grew 22 per cent on an annual basis, with roles offering salaries above ₹30 lakh per annum recording an even sharper 27 per cent rise. Senior professionals were the most sought-after cohort: hiring in the 13–16 years' experience band grew 32 per cent, while demand for those with over 16 years of experience rose 28 per cent. Hyderabad led all cities in AI hiring growth with a 44 per cent surge, followed by Delhi NCR at 34 per cent and Chennai at 31 per cent.
Emerging Cities and GCC Hiring on the Rise
Among major metros, Hyderabad continued to post positive hiring growth at over 6 per cent year-on-year. Emerging cities outperformed their larger counterparts — Coimbatore grew at over 8 per cent and Surat at over 9 per cent. Global Capability Centre (GCC) hiring recorded healthy growth of over 8 per cent across leading metro markets, with Chennai leading at over 25 per cent, followed by Hyderabad at over 20 per cent and Pune at over 16 per cent. Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai also saw positive GCC hiring growth during the month.
What Industry Leaders Said
'While the job market remained stable in May, demand for high-value talent continued to stand out across industries, led by AI or ML roles. Hiring for these roles offering salaries above ₹30 LPA grew 27 per cent,' said Hitesh Oberoi, MD and CEO of Info Edge (India) Limited. Oberoi also highlighted strong fresher hiring momentum in emerging cities like Jaipur and Coimbatore. Fresher hiring overall grew 7 per cent year-on-year, driven primarily by customer-facing roles.
What to Watch
The divergence between AI-led growth and declines in traditional sectors like IT and banking signals a structural shift underway in India's white-collar labour market. Whether emerging cities can sustain their hiring momentum — and whether GCC expansion translates into broader employment — will be key indicators to track in the months ahead.
Point of View
While legacy IT, banking, and telecom are shedding demand. The concentration of AI hiring in senior experience bands — not entry-level — suggests companies are buying capability, not building it, which raises a longer-term question about pipeline development. Emerging cities outperforming metros is a genuine shift worth watching, but it remains to be seen whether that reflects genuine decentralisation or simply cost arbitrage by the same set of large employers.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Naukri JobSpeak Index show for May 2026?
The Naukri JobSpeak Index stood at 2,836 in May 2026, marginally higher than the 2,807 recorded in May 2025, indicating stable white-collar hiring momentum year-on-year. Insurance and BPO/ITES were the top-growing sectors.
Which sectors saw the most hiring growth in May 2026?
Insurance led with over 19 per cent year-on-year growth, followed by BPO/ITES at over 9 per cent, healthcare at over 6 per cent, and hospitality at over 5 per cent. AI/ML roles grew 22 per cent across sectors.
Why are AI/ML roles growing so fast in India's job market?
Demand for AI and machine learning professionals grew 22 per cent year-on-year in May 2026, with high-paying roles above ₹30 lakh per annum rising 27 per cent. Companies are prioritising experienced professionals — those with 13-plus years — over freshers for these positions.
Which cities are leading in hiring growth?
Among emerging cities, Surat grew over 9 per cent and Coimbatore over 8 per cent year-on-year. For AI hiring specifically, Hyderabad led with a 44 per cent surge, followed by Delhi NCR at 34 per cent and Chennai at 31 per cent.
Which sectors saw a decline in hiring in May 2026?
Banking, telecom, pharma, IT, auto, education, and oil and gas all recorded hiring declines ranging from 6 to 15 per cent year-on-year in May 2026. FMCG, retail, and real estate remained largely flat at the national level.
