Indian IT Sector Hiring Picks Up for Specialised AI Positions; Shortage of Job-Ready Professionals Hinders Growth

Indian IT companies are experiencing a resurgence in hiring, focusing on specialised AI roles due to increasing demand for enterprise AI projects.  

However, a shortage of industry-ready AI professionals is making recruitment slower and more costly as per Business Standard news report. 

Selective Hiring in the IT Sector 

Instead of broad recruitment, leading IT firms in India are selectively hiring professionals with AI skills. Companies like HCLTech and Tata Consultancy Services are adopting strategies to build specialised AI talent pools, focusing on client-facing AI deployment roles and skills-first hiring models. 

Infosys has revamped its campus hiring strategy to prioritise AI, generative AI, cloud computing, and data engineering talent. Wipro is adopting a skills-first approach, emphasising demonstrable capabilities over academic credentials. Tech Mahindra and LTIMindtree are also recruiting selectively for AI and digital roles. 

Challenges in Finding AI Talent 

The hiring revival is constrained by a shortage of industry-ready AI professionals. According to a Nasscom report, while over 90% of early-career technology professionals use AI tools, only 23% qualify as 'AI-native' engineers. The industry could face a shortage of over 6,00,000 AI professionals by 2027. 

Anand Mahurkar, CEO of Findability Sciences, highlights the gap between academic education and corporate applications, noting that graduates often lack hands-on AI development experience.  

The challenge extends beyond technical expertise to include the ability to deploy AI solutions at enterprise scale. 

Growing competition from global capability centres, startups, and multinational technology companies is also affecting the ability of Indian IT firms to secure and retain experienced AI professionals. 

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Addressing the Talent Gap 

Despite producing nearly 15,00,000 engineering graduates annually, India struggles to fill specialised AI roles.  

The gap lies in the difference between AI literacy and job-ready expertise. AI evolves faster than university curriculum revision cycles, leaving many educators without exposure to the latest tools and practices. 

Indian IT companies are investing in reskilling programmes and industry partnerships to meet AI talent requirements. Companies are redesigning learning programmes and embedding AI into day-to-day work to build an enterprise-ready workforce.  

Internal reskilling is becoming more scalable and sustainable for addressing enterprise AI needs. 

Conclusion 

Indian IT firms are reviving hiring with a focus on specialised AI roles, but a shortage of industry-ready professionals is slowing recruitment. AI hiring in the IT sector rose 16% year-on-year, while overall IT job listings declined 3%. The industry faces a potential shortage of over 6,00,000 AI professionals by 2027. 

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