India, July 16, 2025: While global headlines have been speaking about AI-triggered job loss – from viral warnings of disappearing white-collar roles to grim predictions of mass unemployment, career platform Naukri’s latest “AI: Friend, Foe or Frenemy” report cuts through the noise to reveal The Unfiltered Truth – in India, the real anxiety isn’t just about losing jobs, it’s about losing creativity.
Naukri’s deep-dive into the Indian job market on the occasion of World AI Day (July 16th) uncovers a surging demand for AI skills, growing salaries, and a shifting narrative where AI is seen more as a career enabler than a threat.
Backed by insights from 60,000+jobseekers, thousands of job listings, and recruiter surveys, the report finds that 86% of Indian jobseekers view AI as a friendrather than a threat.
AI Job Market Grows 38% in Just One Quarter, Tier-2 Cities Join the Surge
Between April and June 2025 alone, over 35,000 AI/ML jobs were posted on Naukri, reflecting a remarkable 38% year-on-year growth in AI roles during Q1 FY’26, while non-AI tech jobs grew by 8%.
The growth story is not limited to metro cities—Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi, and Ahmedabad contributed over 1,500 AI jobs, challenging the myth that AI is a metro-only opportunity.
AI Skills Deliver a 53% Salary Boost—Freshers and Seniors Both Benefit
The report further revealed that overall median salaries for AI-skilled roles are 53% higher than their Non-Ai Skilled counterparts.
A deeper dive into fresher hiring trends revealed that freshers are also cashing in on AI, seeing up to 56% salary premiums, making AI one of the most rewarding career choices today. Senior professionals in the 13-16 yrs experience band can witness a 32% salary premium if they come with AI skills.
Loss of Creativity, Not Just Job Loss, Is a Rising Fear Among High Earners
Naukri’s report also reveals a more nuanced concern than just job loss – the fear of declining creativity. Only one in three jobseekers fear job loss due to AI, but a significant 40% of high earners (₹15 LPA and above) worry that AI may reduce creativity in their work. This anxiety is most pronounced in creative fields, with 54% of Animation and VFX professionals, 43% in Film and Music, and 41% in Advertising and Marketing expressing concern.
Despite this, the overall sentiment remains optimistic, especially when weighed against the clear salary advantages AI skills bring.
AI Hiring Expands Beyond IT, Sees Strong Uptake in BFSI, BPO, and KPO
The adoption of AI is expanding well beyond the traditional tech sector. While IT remains the dominant hub with 53% share of AI jobs, sectors such as Banking, BPO, Accounting, and KPO are quickly catching up. For example, AI roles in Banking grew by 48%, while BPO and ITES saw a 39% jump, despite a large section of BPO employees fearing AI-led displacement. Even sectors like Accounting and KPO reported 49% to 56% growth in AI hiring.
The demand for AI talent is becoming sector-agnostic, marking a clear secular trend beyond core tech functions.
What Jobseekers Want: Free Courses and Practical AI Exposure
The report also uncovers jobseeker expectations: 36% want free AI courses from employers, but 1 in 3 IT professionals seek hands-on AI project exposure beyond theoretical learning. AI upskilling is becoming a key workplace demand across industries like BPO, FMCG, Hospitality, Retail, and Education.
“AI-linked roles are growing faster, salaries are higher, and demand is rising across industries — not just in IT. 86% of jobseekers see AI as a friend, not a threat. Freshers remain anxious, but AI job growth for entry-level roles is up +34%, while senior professionals are seeing the biggest salary premiums. The gap is clear: those with AI skills are moving ahead faster than those in traditional tech roles,” said Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer, Naukri.com.
The report concludes that AI is no longer an emerging trend—it’s a present-day force!
Download Naukri Report – AI Day 2025
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