AI skills demand in India’s IT sector soars to 25%
MUMBAI, INDIA — The hiring of fresh graduates with artificial intelligence (AI) skills in India’s IT sector has surged to 20-25% from just 5-10% over the past three years. Krishna Vij, Vice President at TeamLease Digital, attributed this rise to the accelerated digital transformation across industries.
“Industries have accelerated digital transformation, making digitally skilled talent essential, with AI taking the center stage in business strategies,” Vij explained.
Companies adjust recruitment strategies
In response to the growing demand for AI expertise, companies like HCLTech are revising their recruitment strategies. Ramachandran Sundararajan, Chief People Officer at HCLTech, highlighted the focus on specialized skills during a recent press conference.
“Into FY26, the cycle that we are recruiting now, I think the focus is more going to be on specialization that we will focus on in campuses, not just go by pure numbers,” he stated.
Essential AI skills for new graduates
Fresh graduates are now expected to have proficiency in programming languages and platforms such as Python, R, TensorFlow, PyTorch, AWS, and Azure.
These skills are assessed through coding tests and technical interviews to ensure candidates can effectively implement AI algorithms and automate processes.
Global capability centers: The new AI hubs
The demand for AI skills is also driving growth in global capability centers (GCCs), which have shifted from back-office operations to strategic hubs.
GCCs have seen a 62% year-on-year growth in strategy and management consulting roles, highlighting their evolving role within the industry.
AI’s impact on traditional IT roles
AI’s increasing presence is reshaping traditional roles within the IT industry. Tasks such as data entry and basic software development are becoming automated.
At the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, Rishad Premji, Executive Chairman of Wipro, warned about AI’s disruptive potential. “The reality is that there are going to be some jobs that will disappear,” he noted.
Addressing AI adoption challenges
Premji emphasized the importance of addressing biases in data sets and ensuring safety and security in AI adoption. “We need to think about how we can take people along and also create the right guardrails to make it [adaptable] on scale quickly,” he added.
This trend marks a pivotal moment for India’s IT sector as it adapts to digital transformation demands and positions itself at the forefront of technological innovation.
