The Two-sided Coin of AI
For Indian professionals, the conversation around Artificial Intelligence is a mix of excitement and anxiety. A recent slew of reports perfectly captures this duality. On one hand, a Nomura report highlights a significant net positive employment impact,
with AI-related roles being created at a much faster rate than they are being eliminated. Specifically, India has seen approximately 83,100 AI-related hires, compared to about 31,921 documented layoffs or job freezes linked to the technology. This suggests a vibrant, growing field hungry for talent. However, a separate survey from the professional network Blind tells a different story from the ground up: 66% of professionals currently working in AI and machine learning roles in India expect layoffs in their teams within the next six months. This puts them among the most anxious groups in the tech sector, challenging the notion that an AI job is a safe job. Together, these findings paint a picture not of simple job creation or destruction, but of a massive, rapid, and often jarring transformation of the workforce.
The Jobs at Risk
The fear of displacement is not unfounded. The roles being eliminated or scaled back are often those involving routine, process-oriented tasks that AI can now perform with increasing efficiency. According to the Nomura analysis, many of the job cuts are concentrated in support teams, which are being replaced by sophisticated chatbots, and in entry-level positions across the IT and BPO sectors. This has created what economists call a two-tier labour market. Demand for junior employees with basic skills is weakening, as companies find it more efficient to automate these functions. An ICRIER survey cited in the reports noted that 55% of companies in India's IT sector reported a decline in entry-level hiring. This trend disproportionately affects fresh graduates and those in the early stages of their careers, who have traditionally relied on these roles as a gateway into the industry.
Where the Hiring Growth Is
Conversely, the hiring boom is concentrated in specialised, high-skill domains. Companies are not just hiring; they are hiring for a very specific set of capabilities. The demand is for professionals who can build, implement, and manage AI systems. This includes roles like AI and machine learning specialists, data scientists, AI engineers, and MLOps professionals who manage the deployment and maintenance of machine learning models. The growth isn't limited to the tech sector. Industries like Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) are heavily recruiting AI talent for fraud detection, risk management, and customer intelligence. The crucial point is that these new jobs are not one-to-one replacements for the old ones. A displaced customer support agent can rarely transition directly into an AI engineering role without significant reskilling. This highlights the central challenge: it's not a lack of jobs, but a mismatch of skills.
The Urgent Need for Upskilling
The data sends a clear message to every Indian jobseeker: continuous learning and upskilling are no longer optional. The skills that are most in demand include a strong command of programming languages like Python, a deep understanding of machine learning and deep learning frameworks, and expertise in data engineering and cloud platforms. But it's not just about hard technical skills. There is also a rising demand for what can be termed 'AI-adjacent' skills for non-technical professionals—understanding how to use AI tools to enhance productivity, frame business problems that AI can solve, and work with AI-powered analytics. Fortunately, the ecosystem is responding. Initiatives like NASSCOM's 'AI Skills Yatra' and the government's 'Skill India' mission are working to make training more accessible. For jobseekers, the path forward involves actively seeking out these resources, earning certifications, and building a portfolio of projects that demonstrate practical, real-world AI skills.
The Road Ahead for Jobseekers
The next few years will continue to be a period of intense change. Large corporations may become 'net job losers' as automation streamlines their structured processes, with future job growth potentially coming from smaller, more agile firms. The anxiety felt even by those currently in AI roles suggests that the field itself is rapidly evolving, with today's cutting-edge skills potentially becoming tomorrow's baseline requirements. For the Indian professional, this means adopting a mindset of permanent beta. The goal is not to find a 'safe' job that is immune to AI, but to build a set of adaptable skills that can leverage AI. It means staying informed, being proactive about learning, and understanding that in the age of AI, your career is something you must actively build and rebuild, year after year.
