Job Market Wraps Up 2024 With AI Dominance, South India Led The Hiring Numbers: Report

Hiring In 2024: Geographically, South India led the hiring surge, with Chennai at 35 per cent and Bangalore at 21 per cent playing key roles in driving the overall momentum

Tech-driven roles, such as machine learning engineers, saw an impressive 71 per cent growth, underscoring the increasing demand for AI-related skills

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India’s job market wrapped up 2024 with a 9 per cent year-on-year (YoY) rise in hiring activity, as reported by the Naukri JobSpeak Index. This white-collar hiring indicator reached 2,651 points in December, highlighting widespread growth across key sectors.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) drove the surge, posting a 36 per cent increase in hiring last year. This growth was complemented by steady gains in other high-growth sectors, including oil and gas at 13 per cent, FMCG at 12 per cent, and healthcare at 12 per cent.

“India’s job market is entering 2025 with vigour, driven by AI/ML growth and creative sectors,” said Pawan Goyal, chief business officer at Naukri.com. 

Geographically, South India led the hiring surge, with Chennai at 35 per cent and Bangalore at 21 per cent playing key roles in driving the overall momentum.

At the same time, entry-level recruitment, which had been sluggish for most of the year, showed signs of recovery, marking a 6 per cent increase in December.

The architecture and interior design industry stood out in fresher hiring, experiencing a 39 per cent growth last month, fueled by strong demand for roles like interior designers and video editors. The FMCG sector also saw an 18 per cent rise in fresher hiring, marking its highest increase of the year. Additionally, the beauty and wellness (+26 per cent) and consumer durables (+19 per cent) sectors contributed to the overall growth, reflecting rising demand in creative and lifestyle industries.

“The surge in fresher hiring and evolving C-suite roles show we’re transitioning into a more dynamic landscape. Traditional sectors like FMCG are embracing this evolution, combining fresh talent with strategic expertise,” Goyal said.

Tech-driven roles, such as machine learning engineers, saw an impressive 71 per cent growth, underscoring the increasing demand for AI-related skills.

Meanwhile, hiring for experienced professionals (16+ years) and high-salary positions (Rs 20+ lakh per annum) rose by 29 per cent, with demand extending beyond traditional roles like CFOs and CTOs. Specialized leadership positions, including chief safety officers (+14 per cent) and chief legal officers (+12 per cent), also gained traction, reflecting a broader trend of diversification at the executive level.

Strategic and top management roles grew by 17 per cent, highlighting companies' emphasis on strong leadership to navigate a fast-evolving market.

In South India, recruitment continued to rise, with Coimbatore seeing a 14 per cent increase in fresher hiring, bolstered by a 52 per cent surge in hiring by foreign multinational companies. Hyderabad recorded a 15 per cent growth, driven by demand in IT, consumer durables, and real estate sectors.

In the consumer durables sector, overall hiring grew by 14 per cent, with Bengaluru and Chennai leading the way, reporting growth rates of 21 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively.

The sales and marketing sector saw a 7 per cent growth in December, with campaign manager roles driving a 20 per cent increase. Direct marketing (+8 per cent) and marketing leadership (+6 per cent) positions also showed steady growth, reflecting companies’ focus on strengthening their marketing teams.