India’s white-collar job market registered 12% year-on-year growth in February 2026, supported by increased AI adoption and recovery in the IT sector, according to a report released on Tuesday. The Naukri Jobspeak Index reached 3,233 points in February, up from 2,890 points in February 2025, marking the strongest February performance in recent years.
Month-over-month growth from January to February was 23%, significantly higher than the typical 13-16% growth seen over the past two months.
5 key highlights from the Naukri JobSpeak report
1. The IT sector shows signs of recovery
The IT sector saw employment increase by over 6% year over year in February 2026. Graduate hiring in the sector also increased by 8%, indicating improving demand across experience levels.
India-based multinational IT companies led this surge, recording a 55% increase in hiring numbers.
2. AI/ML adoption skyrockets
Within the IT sector, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) is gaining significant momentum. Employment in the AI/ML field increased by 40%, highlighting the concentration of demand in high-skilled, high-value talent segments.
The role of AI/ML in the IT sector further increased by 49% year-on-year, with Indian multinationals increasing AI/ML employment by 82% compared to 43% in foreign multinationals.
3. New employees and highly paid talent attract attention.
Overall graduate hiring increased by 17% annually. At the same time, demand for roles with an annual salary of Rs 20 million increased by 23%, reflecting the strength of both entry-level and premium roles.
4. Non-IT sector employment momentum continues
Non-IT sectors continued to contribute significantly to overall employment growth. 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%.
5. Indian multinationals drive overall expansion
In February 2026, Indian multinationals expanded employment by 24%. The report pointed out that domestic companies are investing heavily in introducing AI talent and new technologies.
Pawan Goyal, chief business officer, Naukri.com, said there has been a strong rebound in IT hiring and Indian multinationals are investing in AI talent at a healthy pace, adding that momentum looks strong heading into the new financial year.
What is Naukri JobSpeak Index?
The Naukri Jobspeak Index is a monthly indicator that tracks trends in the Indian job market and employment activities. It is based on new job openings and recruiter searches on Naukri.com’s resume database, providing insight into demand and talent trends by sector.
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