AI/ML hiring grows 20% in September amid steady job market

Hiring for artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) roles grew 20 per cent year-on-year in September, according to the Naukri JobSpeak report. This growth occurred even as the broader white-collar job market remained largely steady and overall IT and software services hiring declined by 4 per cent year-on-year.

The data indicates a shift toward specialized skills and experienced professionals. Within the AI/ML sector, hiring for professionals with 13-16 years of experience rose 54 per cent, while demand for those with 8-12 years of experience increased by 28 per cent. Fresher hiring in the AI/ML field grew by 19 per cent.

Hitesh Oberoi, Managing Director and CEO of Info Edge (India) Ltd, noted that while the hiring market is stable, it is becoming more selective. He stated that demand is increasingly driven by specific business needs, focusing on specialized capabilities like AI.