Overall white-collar hiring grew just 2% YoY in September, taking the Naukri JobSpeak index to 3,053, according to the report released by Info Edge (India).
The shift towards AI was even more pronounced in August, when AI/ML hiring jumped 31% YoY and IT and software services hiring grew 11%.
The September numbers suggest that the broader hiring market is holding up, but employers are becoming more selective about the skills and experience they want.
Info Edge MD and CEO Hitesh Oberoi said in August that hiring was growing across both IT and non-IT sectors and across experience levels, while cautioning that the festive calendar could influence the numbers.
By September, his assessment had become more measured, with Oberoi describing the market as “steady, but more selective”, with demand shifting towards specialised skills, particularly AI, and more experienced professionals.
Freshers lose momentum
Hiring among professionals with 0-3 years of experience grew just 1% YoY in September, sharply slower than the 15% growth recorded in August.
Recruitment for the 4-7 years experience cohort fell 2% in September. More experienced professionals, however, saw stronger demand, with hiring among those with 13-15 years of experience rising 7%.
That marks a significant change from August, when fresher hiring grew 15%, helped by stronger recruitment in non-IT sectors such as telecom and insurance.
The latest numbers suggest that while entry-level hiring has not collapsed, growth is increasingly concentrated among specialised and experienced professionals.
Auto remains a bright spot
The auto sector remained one of the stronger pockets of the jobs market, with hiring rising 11% YoY in September. That followed 19% growth in August.
The September report identified Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru as key drivers of hiring in the sector.
BPO and IT-enabled services (BPO/ITES) hiring also grew 4%, while hiring in banking and financial services and real estate was broadly flat.
Several sectors, however, saw declines. Education hiring fell 18%, hospitality dropped 11% and telecom hiring declined 12%.
Overall, September’s numbers point to a jobs market that is still growing, but at a slower pace and with a narrower focus. AI and specialised skills are gaining ground, while traditional IT and entry-level hiring are losing some momentum.
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