In June 2026, AI-related job openings in India rose 16% year on year, while total employment in the IT industry fell 3%. The gap in dynamics indicates a shift in priorities: employers reduce the overall pool but continue to invest in AI task specialists. The Naukri JobSpeak report is based on data from more than 150,000 companies.

CEO of Info Edge Hitesh Obera linked the growth of demand with a focus on specialized experts: AI is becoming a key competence, especially for experienced staff. In 14 industries, job openings in AI and machine learning grew by 25%, with insurance and consumer goods recording the most notable growth. India’s $315 billion IT industry is under pressure from subdued client investments and the threat of AI to traditional business models.

Tata Consultancy Services warned about the slowdown in hiring and moving to a model where the number of employees and AI agents would be comparable. Meanwhile, in the US, unemployment among technology professionals fell to 2.9% in June, and employment in the sector rose by 47,000. Analysts have previously warned that AI could replace 11.7% of the labor force in the US labor market, equivalent to $1.2 trillion in annual wages.