India’s white-collar hiring jumps 12% in February; IT, AI roles drive surge, says report
ADVERTISEMENT
India’s white-collar job market recorded a 12% year-on-year growth in February, supported by rising adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and a recovery in the IT sector, according to a latest report. The latest data from the Naukri.com-compiled Naukri JobSpeak Index showed that the index rose to 3,233 points in February, up from 2,890 points in the same month last year. The report described this as the strongest February performance for the white-collar job market in recent years.
On a month-on-month basis, hiring activity surged 23% between January and February — significantly higher than the typical 13–16% increase usually seen during this period.
IT sector shows signs of recovery
The IT sector posted over 6% year-on-year growth in hiring in February 2026, hinting a meaningful recovery. Freshers’ hiring in the sector rose 8% during the month. India-based multinational IT companies emerged as the primary growth drivers, recording a sharp 55% surge in hiring, the report said.
Within the IT space, demand for AI and machine learning (AI/ML) talent remained particularly strong. Hiring for AI/ML roles rose 40% year-on-year, indicating that February’s gains were concentrated in high-skill, high-value segments.
“The 23% month-on-month swing from January to February is sharper than historical patterns, and the composition backs it up, IT hiring is recovering meaningfully, and Indian MNCs are investing in AI talent at a healthy pace. The underlying momentum heading into the new fiscal year looks genuinely solid,” said Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer at Naukri.com.
Freshers, high-paying roles gain momentum
The report mentioned that overall freshers’ hiring grew 17% annually, reflecting improving demand at the entry level. At the higher end, demand for roles in the ₹20 lakh-per-annum salary bracket rose 23%, signalling strength in premium talent segments as well.
In February 2026, Indian MNCs expanded overall hiring by 24%.
AI/ML roles within the IT sector sustained their upward trajectory, with hiring rising 49% year-on-year. Indian MNCs grew their AI/ML hiring by 82%, compared with 43% growth by foreign MNCs, underscoring that domestic enterprises are placing significant bets on AI-led transformation.
Non-IT sectors remain strong
Beyond IT, non-IT sectors continued to anchor overall hiring momentum. Insurance led with 28% growth, followed by BPO/ITES (22%), real estate (19%), hospitality and travel (15%), and retail (14%).