Demand for AI Specialists in India Rises Amid IT Job Cuts

Demand for AI Specialists in India Rises Amid IT Job Cuts

AI job openings in India rose 16% in June, IT hiring fell 3%.

In June, job openings related to artificial intelligence in India increased by 16% compared to the previous year, while hiring in the IT sector fell by 3%, according to a report by Naukri JobSpeak cited by Reuters.

The report is based on job data from over 150,000 companies. The disparity in trends indicates a shift in priorities: employers are reducing overall hiring but continue to seek specialists for AI-related tasks.

Hitesh Oberoi, CEO of Info Edge (owner of Naukri), attributed the growth to a shift in demand towards specialists with niche skills.

“The difference [between hiring AI specialists and general IT hiring] is significant because it shows where tech companies continue to invest. AI is increasingly becoming a key area of expertise, especially as demand shifts towards more experienced and specialized professionals,” Oberoi said.

India’s IT industry, valued at $315 billion, is under pressure as clients hold back on tech investments due to a weak macroeconomic environment and the rise of artificial intelligence, which threatens their traditional business models.

In the 14 sectors included in the report, AI and machine learning job openings grew by 25% year-over-year. Naukri recorded the most significant growth in the insurance and consumer goods sectors.

Separately, Reuters highlighted Tata Consultancy Services’ position. In June 2026, the company warned of a slowdown in IT hiring and a shift towards a model where the number of employees and AI agents would be comparable. In July 2025, TCS cut over 12,000 jobs, and by the end of the fiscal year in March 2026, the company’s net workforce had decreased by more than 23,000 people.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., unemployment among tech professionals fell to 2.9% in June 2026 from 3.1% in May and 3.5% in April. Data from CompTIA, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, show that the rate dropped below 3% for the first time in 2026. Employment in tech professions increased by 47,000 in June, with the overall national unemployment rate at 4.2%.

Earlier, analysts warned that artificial intelligence could replace 11.7% of the U.S. workforce, equivalent to $1.2 trillion in annual salaries.