Mumbai, March 3 India's white-collar job market recorded a 12 per cent year-on-year growth in February, amid increasing adoption of AI and a recovery in the IT sector, according to a report released on Tuesday.
The white-collar job market saw its strongest February performance in recent years, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index reaching 3,233 points – up 12 per cent from 2,890 points in February 2026.
The month-on-month growth from January to February was 23 per cent, significantly higher than the typical 13-16 per cent range between the two months, the report, based on the Naukri JobSpeak Index, added.
The IT sector saw over 6 per cent year-on-year growth in hiring in February 2026.
Hiring of fresh graduates in the sector also increased by a healthy 8 per cent.
Indian multinational IT companies were the primary drivers, recording a 55 per cent surge in hiring, the report said.
Within the IT sector, hiring for AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning) increased by 40 per cent, further reinforcing that February's performance was concentrated in the highest-skill, highest-value talent segments.
The Naukri JobSpeak is a monthly index that tracks trends in India's job market and hiring activity, based on new job postings and recruiter searches on Naukri.com's resume database.
The report further stated that hiring of fresh graduates grew by 17 per cent annually, while the demand for roles in the Rs 20 lakh-per-annum band rose by 23 per cent, reflecting strength across both entry-level and high-value talent segments.
Meanwhile, non-IT sectors continued to drive hiring momentum, with insurance leading at 28 per cent, followed by BPO/ITES (22 per cent), real estate (19 per cent), hospitality/travel (15 per cent), and retail (14 per cent).
In February 2026, Indian MNCs expanded hiring by 24 per cent.
In the IT sector, hiring for AI/ML roles remained strong, rising by 49 per cent year-on-year.
Indian MNCs increased their AI/ML hiring by 82 per cent, compared to 43 per cent for foreign MNCs, the report highlighted, indicating that domestic enterprises are making significant investments in adopting this new technology.
IT hiring is recovering significantly, and Indian MNCs are investing in AI talent at a healthy pace. The underlying momentum heading into the new fiscal year looks genuinely solid, said Naukri Chief Business Officer Pawan Goyal.
