India’s white-collar job market is set for strong growth in the second half of 2025. According to Naukri’s bi-annual Hiring Outlook report, nearly 72% of employers plan to hire more people by creating new jobs instead of just replacing old positions.
The survey, which included 1,300 employers from different sectors, found that 94% of companies will hire in some form during this period.
Despite global fears that artificial intelligence (AI) could take away jobs, Indian employers feel differently. About 87% of companies said they don’t expect AI to reduce jobs. In fact, 13% believe AI will help create new opportunities, especially in fields like IT (42%), Analytics (17%), and Business Development (11%).
Naukri’s Chief Business Officer, Pawan Goyal, said it is encouraging that most employers are focusing on new job creation and are confident that AI will act more as a job enabler than a threat.
The demand is especially high for technology roles such as data science, machine learning, and AI-related skills. Around 37% of employers plan to hire for IT positions.
When it comes to experience levels:
- Mid-level professionals (4–7 years) are in the highest demand (47%).
- Entry-level candidates (up to 3 years) make up 29% of hiring plans.
- Experienced professionals (8–12 years) account for 17%.
- Only 3% of companies plan to hire senior professionals with 13–16 years of experience.
The report shows that hiring in India is looking positive for 2025, especially for mid-level professionals and people with emerging tech skills, with AI acting more as a job creator than a threat.
