India's White-Collar Job Sector Finishes Fiscal Year Strong with Non-IT and AI Hiring
Synopsis
India's white-collar job market shows impressive resilience, concluding the fiscal year with a 16% rise in fresher hiring. Non-IT sectors like hospitality and BPO lead the growth, while AI roles surge significantly.
Key Takeaways
16% increase in fresher hiring year-on-year.
Hospitality sector leads growth with 21%.
AI/ML roles witness a surge of over 37% in March.
Hiring for salaries above Rs 20 LPA rises by 23% .
Kolkata tops in AI/ML hiring growth at 56% .
New Delhi, April 6 (NationPress) The white-collar job landscape in India wrapped up the financial year robustly, with a notable 16 percent year-on-year surge in hiring for fresh talent. This growth was evident across both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, as reported on Monday.
The findings from Naukri highlighted that non-IT industries were pivotal in driving this job market growth, with the hospitality sector leading at a remarkable 21 percent year-on-year increase. Other sectors such as BPO/ITES followed closely at 18 percent, while both the oil and gas and education sectors recorded 15 percent. Real estate also showed a healthy increase of 14 percent.
The JobSpeak Index reached 2,858 in March, reflecting a 9 percent year-on-year growth.
According to the report, this impressive performance secured an annual growth rate of over 8 percent for FY26, a substantial rise from the mere 2 percent growth observed in FY25.
Moreover, hiring for fresh graduates with salaries exceeding Rs 20 lakh annually surged by an astonishing 23 percent YoY.
While IT hiring remained stagnant, roles in AI and machine learning experienced a remarkable growth exceeding 37 percent in March, and over 45 percent for the complete fiscal year.
The demand for talent in the above-Rs 20 LPA salary band grew by more than 16 percent, and unicorn companies also contributed positively, registering an impressive 24 percent YoY increase.
The hiring growth in AI/ML roles was concentrated among higher salary brackets, with those earning over Rs 50 LPA seeing a surge of more than 55 percent. Meanwhile, salary bands of Rs 40-49 LPA and Rs 30-39 LPA reported growth rates of over 40 percent and 41 percent respectively.
Regionally, Kolkata led in AI/ML hiring with an extraordinary 56 percent YoY growth, followed closely by Delhi NCR at over 44 percent, both outpacing traditional tech hubs like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Service-oriented non-IT sectors, including hospitality, education, and BPO/ITES, showed remarkable resilience throughout FY26.
Point of View
It is evident that India's job market is evolving positively, particularly in non-IT sectors and AI. This growth not only reflects the resilience of the economy but also indicates a shift in hiring trends that prioritize fresh talent and innovation.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What sectors contributed to the growth in India's job market?
The non-IT sectors, particularly hospitality, BPO/ITES, and education, were significant contributors to the growth in India's job market.
How much did fresh hiring increase year-on-year?
Fresh hiring surged by 16 percent year-on-year.
What is the JobSpeak Index?
The JobSpeak Index is a measure of the job market's health, reflecting job postings and hiring trends.
How did AI and ML hiring perform?
AI and ML hiring saw a remarkable growth of over 37 percent in March and more than 45 percent for the fiscal year.
Which city led in AI/ML hiring growth?
Kolkata led in AI/ML hiring with over 56 percent year-on-year growth.
