India’s white-collar job market grew 12% year-on-year in February due to increased adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and recovery in the IT sector, according to the latest Naukri Jobspeak Index report.The index rose from 2,890 points in February 2025 to 3,233 points in February 2026, marking the strongest February performance in recent years, PTI reported. On a month-over-month basis, hiring activity accelerated 23% from January to February, exceeding the typical 13-16% growth rate for this period.The IT sector recorded an annual increase of more than 6% in hiring during the month, with graduate recruitment increasing by 8%. India-based multinational IT companies led the surge, with hiring numbers increasing by 55%, the report said.
Demand for AI and machine learning roles remained strong in the IT sector. AI/ML employment grew 40% year-over-year, highlighting the concentration of jobs in high-skill, high-value sectors.Naukri JobSpeak Index tracks trends in the Indian job market based on new job postings and recruiter searches on Naukri.com’s resume database.Industry-wide graduate recruitment grew by 17% annually, and demand for roles in the Rs 2 million annual salary bracket grew by 23%, reflecting the strength of both the entry-level and premium talent segments.Non-IT sectors also supported overall hiring momentum. Insurance topped the list with 28% growth, followed by BPO/ITES with 22%, real estate with 19%, hospitality and travel with 15%, and retail with 14%.Indian multinationals expanded employment by 24% in February 2026.In the IT segment, AI/ML roles maintained a stronger trajectory, increasing 49% year over year. Indian multinationals increased AI/machine learning hiring by 82%, compared to 43% by foreign multinationals, indicating that domestic companies are accelerating investment in new technologies.“IT hiring has rebounded significantly and Indian multinationals are investing in AI talent at a healthy pace. The underlying momentum heading into the new financial year looks really solid,” said Pawan Goyal, chief business officer at Naukri.
