In January 2024, India experienced a notable surge in hiring for AI-related roles, particularly within the healthcare, hospitality, and FMCG sectors, according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index. This period saw an overall increase in white-collar hiring to 2,455 positions, a modest 1% rise from the previous month, despite being approximately 11% lower than the same period last year. This trend was highlighted by a significant demand for senior professionals and premium job seekers, with new positions in artificial intelligence witnessing a 12% increase year-on-year.
A staggering growth in specialized AI roles was observed, where hiring for machine learning engineers and full-stack AI scientists jumped by 46% and 23% year-on-year. This indicates a robust demand for advanced AI skills in the job market, reflecting the changing skill requirements across various industries, particularly in the IT sector. Despite these increases in specialized fields, the overall IT job growth was more subdued, with only a modest 1% increase from the previous month and a 19% decline compared to January 2023, marking a cautious approach to hiring within the sector.
The healthcare sector also saw a healthy increase in hiring, with a 7% rise in job offers, especially for administrative roles. Similarly, the FMCG sector reported a 5% increase in new job openings compared to January of the previous year. However, some sectors, such as BPO and insurance, experienced declines in hiring activity, with drops of 16% and 8%, respectively. Education and retail sectors also faced a contraction of 7% each year-on-year.
These hiring trends in India for January 2024 showcase a dynamic and evolving job market, with an apparent inclination towards technology-driven roles, especially in AI and healthcare. The demand for advanced technical skills is rising, reflecting broader economic and technological shifts within the country. Despite the overall cautious hiring landscape, specific sectors are thriving, underlining the importance of AI and digital transformation across industries.
