India Hiring Rises 12% in February as AI and IT Drive Growth

India hiring rises 12% in February, fueled by a rebound in the information technology (IT) sector and strong demand for artificial intelligence roles, according to the latest Naukri JobSpeak Index report. This marks one of the strongest February performances in recent years.

The overall job index jumped to 3,233 in February 2026, up from 2,890 a year ago, showing renewed confidence among recruiters and a broadening market recovery.

What the Report Shows: AI, IT and Hiring Trends

The Naukri JobSpeak Index revealed several key trends:

• Year-on-year hiring up 12% overall.
• Month-on-month acceleration at 23%, well above the usual seasonal rise seen between January and February.
• IT sector hiring grew over 6%, a sign of recovery after recent slowdown phases.
• AI/ML roles continued strong growth, with demand up around 40%–49% year-on-year within the IT segment.
• Freshers’ hiring in IT rose by 8%, showing that companies are rebuilding talent pipelines.

Across sectors, domestic IT companies are leading the rebound Indian multinational companies expanded overall hiring by about 24%. AI and machine learning roles saw especially rapid growth, with Indian MNCs expanding AI talent hires more sharply than their foreign counterparts.

Broader Hiring Across Industries

The hiring momentum is not limited to technology. Non-IT industries also showed strong gains:

• Insurance sector hiring up 28%.
• BPO/ITES grew 22%.
• Real estate added 19%.
• Hospitality and travel expanded 15%.
• Retail sector saw 14% growth.

Across experience bands, freshers’ hiring climbed 17% year-on-year, while demand for high-pay roles (₹20 lakh per annum and above) increased 23%, highlighting strength at both entry and premium talent levels.

Why India Hiring Growth Matters Now

This 12% jump in hiring shows that corporate India is shifting gears ahead of the new fiscal year. AI adoption and IT modernization are key engines of this recovery, especially as companies invest in digital transformation and automation tools.

A sharper-than-usual month-on-month increase signals more than seasonal hiring trends it suggests structural momentum in the job market. Skilled and high-value roles, especially those tied to AI, are becoming central to workforce planning.

For professionals, this means upskilling in AI, machine learning, and digital domains can open more opportunities. Companies, meanwhile, are focused on tech talent that can help them stay competitive amid global shifts in productivity and innovation.