AI hiring jumps 25% as Jaipur and Coimbatore emerge as fresher hiring hubs: Naukri

India's recruitment landscape is becoming increasingly uneven, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as one of the strongest hiring engines while newer cities continue to gain ground beyond the traditional metro markets.

According to Naukri's latest JobSpeak report, hiring for AI and machine learning roles increased 25% year-on-year, reflecting growing investments in generative AI, automation and data-driven technologies. At the same time, Jaipur and Coimbatore recorded strong growth in fresher hiring, signalling a broader shift in where employers are building entry-level talent pipelines.

AI skills remain a hiring priority

The report shows employers are placing greater emphasis on specialised digital capabilities even as recruitment trends vary across industries.

Hiring for AI and machine learning roles grew 25% year-on-year, making it one of the fastest-growing skill segments in the job market.

Commenting on the trend, Hitesh Oberoi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Info Edge, said the divergence between overall IT hiring and AI recruitment reflects changing investment priorities.

"Even as IT hiring has moderated, AI hiring within the sector grew 16% year-on-year in June. That divergence is important because it shows where tech companies are still investing. AI is increasingly becoming a core capability area, especially as demand shifts towards more senior and specialised talent."

Emerging cities gain momentum

The report also points to changing geographic hiring patterns.

While India's established technology hubs remain important, recruiters are increasingly expanding entry-level hiring into emerging cities.

Fresher hiring growth

• Jaipur: 17% year-on-year
• Coimbatore: 16% year-on-year

The trend suggests companies are broadening their talent sourcing strategies beyond conventional metropolitan locations.

Chennai and Hyderabad stand out in GCC hiring

Hiring at Global Capability Centres (GCCs) declined 1% overall, but two cities continued to outperform the broader market.

GCC hiring growth

• Chennai: 19%
• Hyderabad: 15%

The report indicates both cities continue to attract investments in global capability operations despite a softer overall recruitment environment for GCCs.

Sector-wise hiring paints a mixed picture

Recruitment trends varied significantly across industries.

Fastest-growing sectors

• Insurance: 16%
• FMCG: 7%
• Telecom: 6%
• Real estate: 5%
• BPO/ITES: 4%
• Pharma and biotech: 4%
• Healthcare: 2%

The insurance sector recorded the strongest hiring growth, supported largely by demand in Chennai and Hyderabad.

Several industries, however, continued to face hiring pressure.

Sectors reporting declines

• Banking and financial services: -12%
• IT/software services: -3%
• Hospitality: -3%
• Retail: -2%
• Automobile: -1%

Hiring in the oil and gas sector remained broadly unchanged.

Hiring priorities continue to evolve

The report suggests employers are becoming more selective in their hiring decisions, with increasing emphasis on specialised digital capabilities and business-critical skills.

While recruitment has moderated across parts of the technology sector, demand for AI professionals continues to grow as organisations expand investments in automation, generative AI and data-led transformation.