AI-related recruitment in India’s information-technology industry increased 16% year-on-year in June 2026. The same month saw a 3% decline in total IT job postings, according to Naukri.com’s JobSpeak report.
In June 2026, AI-focused hiring by Indian IT firms rose 16% compared with June 2025, while overall IT job postings dropped 3% during the same period [1][3]. The data pertain to the Indian information-technology sector nationwide and were released in Naukri.com’s monthly JobSpeak report on 5 July 2026 [1][2].
The report aggregates job-posting activity from more than 150,000 employers spanning 14 industry verticals, including information technology, insurance, consumer goods, and others [2][4]. Companies cited in the report range from large multinational service providers to domestic software firms. The increase in AI and machine-learning roles is attributed to a concerted push by these firms to expand capabilities in artificial-intelligence technologies, as indicated by the JobSpeak analysis [2][4].
Hiring Trends and Data Sources
Naukri.com’s JobSpeak methodology compiles real-time posting data from its portal, which receives approximately 2 million job listings each month. The June 2026 dataset showed 1.2 million total IT postings, down from 1.24 million in June 2025, reflecting the 3% decline [1][3]. Within the same dataset, AI-related postings numbered 192,000, up from 165,000 a year earlier, representing the 16% year-on-year growth [1][2].
Across the broader set of 14 industries tracked, AI and machine-learning positions grew 25% year-on-year in June 2026, with the insurance sector posting a 38% increase and consumer goods a 34% increase [2]. The report notes that the surge is driven by corporate strategies to integrate AI into product development, data analytics, and automation processes.
The increase in AI and machine-learning roles is attributed to a concerted push by these firms to expand capabilities in artificial-intelligence technologies, as indicated by the JobSpeak analysis [2][4].
The JobSpeak report also highlighted that while AI hiring rose, other technology roles such as legacy systems support and basic software testing saw modest declines of 5%–8% year-on-year, underscoring a reallocation of recruitment focus within the sector [4].
The documented shift toward AI-centric roles directly influences current and prospective students in engineering, computer science, and data-science programs, who now encounter higher demand for skills in machine learning, natural language processing, and AI model deployment. Training institutions may adjust curricula to align with employer needs, as indicated by the rise in AI-specific postings [2][4].
For job seekers already employed in the IT sector, the data suggest a need to acquire or deepen AI competencies to remain competitive. The 16% increase in AI hiring represents an immediate expansion of available positions, while the 3% overall decline may limit openings for non-AI technical roles.
IT firms planning workforce strategies can reference the JobSpeak findings to benchmark hiring trends against industry averages. Companies reporting AI hiring growth may allocate recruitment resources toward specialized talent pools, whereas firms experiencing overall posting declines might reconsider hiring timelines or explore reskilling programs for existing staff.
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