AI Job Market in India Booms with 42% Growth, Driving Overall Hiring Surge

AI job market booms with 42% growth over two years; overall hiring up by 31% (YoY) in December: foundit

India's hiring activity has increased by 12% in the past six months, led by sectors like Consumer Electronics, Manufacturing, and Construction & Engineering. AI jobs saw a 42% growth over the last two years. Medical roles grew by 44%, significantly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.India's hiring activity has surged by 12% over the past six months, with a 31% year-on-year (YoY) increase in recruitment in December, the latest data from jobs and talent platform, foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME) has found. The growth is reflected across 22 of the 27 sectors monitored, with Consumer Electronics, Manufacturing, and Construction & Engineering leading the charge with 60%, 57% and 57% YoY respectively. In December 2024, job demand rose by 5% month-on-month (MoM), with the hiring index reaching 334. "The growth in hiring activity across sectors underscores the resilience, adaptability, and dynamism of India's job market," said V Suresh, CEO of foundit in a statement. "What's particularly exciting is the explosive growth in AI at 42% in just two years, showcasing the transformation of an important skillset to a core driver of the economy. With a projected 14% further growth in AI hiring in 2025, we are witnessing a paradigm shift where AI is no longer a futuristic concept, but a fundamental element of India's present and future workforce." Healthcare and HR sectors drive job growth surge Medical roles experienced a 44% annual growth, fuelled by telemedicine, diagnostics, and specialised nursing, with health tech roles like Healthcare Analyst also seeing a 12% increase. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities emerged as healthcare hiring hubs, accounting for 30% of new roles. The increasing demand for professionals skilled in biotechnology, medical coding, telemedicine platforms and AI-driven healthcare solutions underscores the industry's rapid transformation. Telecom has seen a 25% growth in the last three months; momentum expected to continue into 2025; BFSI has seen 30% growth over the last six months. Travel and tourism has experienced a 14% decline over the past six months. Entry to Mid-Senior roles in high demand Annual Hiring demand varies across experience levels, with entry-level roles (0-3 years) increasing by 18% and associate-level positions (4-6 years) up by 15%. Mid-senior roles (7-10 years) led with a 20% rise. Senior-level positions (11-15 years) grew by 5%, while executive roles (16+ years) declined by 6%. In December, annual hiring surged across all 13 monitored cities. Coimbatore led with a 58% year-on-year growth, while Bengaluru and Chennai followed with increases of 41% and 37%, respectively. Mumbai topped month-over-month demand with an 11% rise, along with a 23% YoY increase. Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad also showed strong annual growth at 33% and 36%, respectively, though their monthly gains were modest. Top AI hiring trends AI jobs in India exploded by 42% over the past two years reaching 253,000 positions. Top skills include Python, AI/ML, Data Science, Deep Learning, SQL and Software Development. Additionally, expertise in specialised AI frameworks such as TensorFlow (15%) and PyTorch (16%) was highly sought after by employers. Bengaluru, Pune, and Delhi/NCR led AI hiring by 26%, 17%, and 14% respectively. A further 14% growth in AI jobs is projected for 2025, driven by increasing AI adoption across BFSI, Healthcare, Retail, and Manufacturing.

AI job market booms with 42% growth over two years; 2025 forecast predicts additional 14% increase: foundit insights tracker

Overall hiring activities surge by 31% on a YoY basis Increase in recruitment activities in 22 out of 27 industries annually Annual hiring surges across all 13 monitored cities in December, with Coimbatore leading year-on-year growth (58%) and Mumbai topping monthly growth in demand (11%) As per the latest data from jobs and talent platform, foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), India's hiring landscape is set to make a strong start in 2025, reflecting optimism and growth across diverse industries. The foundit insights tracker (fit) reveals that India's hiring activity has surged by an impressive 12% over the past six months, with a 31% year-on-year (YoY) increase in recruitment in December. The growth is reflected across 22 of the 27 sectors monitored, with Consumer Electronics, Manufacturing, and Construction & Engineering leading the charge with 60%, 57% and 57% YoY respectively. "The growth in hiring activity across sectors underscores the resilience, adaptability, and dynamism of India's job market." said V Suresh, CEO of foundit. "What's particularly exciting is the explosive growth in AI at 42% in just two years, showcasing the transformation of an important skill set to a core driver of the economy. With a projected 14% further growth in AI hiring in 2025, we are witnessing a paradigm shift where AI is no longer a futuristic concept, but a fundamental element of India's present and future workforce." Sustained momentum and improving hiring sentiments In December 2024, job demand rose by 5% month-on-month (MoM), with the hiring index reaching an impressive 334 -- a testament to growing business confidence and economic momentum. Over the last three months, an 8% increase in hiring activity highlighted sustained progress, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of Indian businesses in a dynamic market. This steady upward trend underscored the nation's commitment to fostering sustainable, long-term employment opportunities through strategic initiatives. Healthcare and HR sectors drive job growth surge Medical roles experienced a remarkable 44% annual growth, fuelled by telemedicine, diagnostics, and specialised nursing, with health tech roles like Healthcare Analyst also seeing a 12% increase. HR & Admin roles saw a 21% rise in the last three months, driven by the need for strategic workforce management and AI integration, as companies are increasingly focused on optimising employee productivity, streamlining operations, and leveraging data-driven insights to enhance decision-making processes. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities emerged as healthcare hiring hubs, accounting for 30% of new roles. The increasing demand for professionals skilled in biotechnology, medical coding, telemedicine platforms and AI-driven healthcare solutions underscores the industry's rapid transformation. Sector-specific hiring trends Sector Key Trends and Insights Telecommunication Strong revival with 25% growth in the last three months; momentum expected to continue into 2025. Demonstrated a growth of 38% YoY in recruitment activity BFSI 30% growth over the past six months, positioning it as a leading sector. Showcased a growth of 37% YoY in recruitment activity The sector witnessed 2% growth in AI related roles on an annual basis Travel and Tourism Experienced a 14% decline over the past six months. Advertising & Public Relations 14% increase in related job postings. 11% growth last month driven by demand for expertise in AI-driven campaigns, digital storytelling, audience analytics, and engagement optimisation Automation 10% growth last month, 11% over the last three months. Demand for Quality Engineers (23% growth), Automation Engineers (17% growth), and Robotics Specialists (14% growth) Demand-supply gap being addressed by upskilling 19% projected growth in 2025 AI/ML specialists and Data Analysts top job demand as key skills drive growth AI/ML specialists led job demand with a 21% increase, followed by Data Analysts at 14%. Digital Marketing Specialists and Software Developers saw growth at 12% and 10%, respectively. Product and Project Managers each rose by 5%. Key skills in demand include Data Analysis (18%), Digital Marketing (12%), Java (10%), and DevOps (5%). Entry to Mid-Senior roles in high demand Annual Hiring demand varies across experience levels, with entry-level roles (0-3 years) increasing by 18% and associate-level positions (4-6 years) up by 15%. Mid-senior roles (7-10 years) led with a 20% rise. Senior-level positions (11-15 years) grew by 5%, while executive roles (16+ years) declined by 6%. Coimbatore, Bengaluru, and Mumbai lead growth trends City Key Trends and Insights Coimbatore Led with 58% YoY growth Bengaluru Increased by 41% YoY Chennai Recorded 37% YoY growth Mumbai Saw 11% MoM demand, along with 23% YoY increase Delhi - NCR Achieved strong annual growth at 33% YoY Hyderabad Showed robust annual growth of 36% YoY Pune Registered growth of 35% YoY In December, annual hiring surged across all 13 monitored cities. Coimbatore led with a 58% year-on-year growth, while Bengaluru and Chennai followed with increases of 41% and 37%, respectively. Mumbai topped month-over-month demand with an 11% rise, along with a 23% YoY increase. Delhi-NCR and Hyderabad also showed strong annual growth at 33% and 36%, respectively, though their monthly gains were modest. Top AI hiring trends. AI jobs in India exploded by 42% over the past two years reaching 253,000 positions. Top skills include Python, AI/ML, Data Science, Deep Learning, SQL and Software Development. Additionally, expertise in specialised AI frameworks such as TensorFlow (15%) and PyTorch (16%) was highly sought after by employers. Skills % share in all jobs posted Python 53% AI/ML 32% SQL 21% Software Development 21% Data Science 18% PyTorch 16% Tensor Flow 15% Bengaluru, Pune, and Delhi/NCR led AI hiring by 26%, 17%, and 14% respectively. A further 14% growth in AI jobs is projected for 2025, driven by increasing AI adoption across BFSI, Healthcare, Retail, and Manufacturing. Location % share of AI jobs Bengaluru 26% Pune 17% Delhi/NCR 14% Mumbai 13% Hyderabad 10% About foundit - APAC & Middle East foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME) is Asia's leading jobs & talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. In addition to a powerful AI-powered job search, foundit offers e-learning, assessments, and services related to resume creation, interview preparation, and professional networking. Since its inception, the company has assisted over 120 million job seekers across 18 countries in connecting them with the right job opportunities and upskilling. foundit is now also the Official Talent Partner of the Badminton World Federation across 20 key world tour events. Over the last two decades, the company has been a leader in the world of recruitment solutions and has launched a cutting-edge solution to give recruiters access to passive candidates in addition to active ones. With the use of advanced technology, foundit is seeking to efficiently bridge the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalised job searches and offer precision hiring. Additionally, foundit has been recognised as a Great Place To Work, reflecting its dedication to fostering a supportive and dynamic work culture.