AI is becoming a core workplace skill as demand surges across technology and non-technology jobs.
Professionals with AI expertise are also commanding higher salaries, according to Naukri’s World AI Day Report 2026.
Highlights
- AI skill demand in tech jobs has increased nearly 17-fold since 2020.
- AI-related skills now appear in 15.4% of technology job descriptions.
- AI mentions in non-tech jobs have grown almost six-fold.
- Professionals with AI skills earn higher median salaries.
- Hiring is strongest for experienced professionals with 13+ years of experience.
- Product Management, Data Science and Software roles are leading AI adoption.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming India’s job market, with AI skills becoming a key requirement for employers across industries. According to Naukri’s World AI Day Report 2026, AI-related skills now feature in 15.4% of technology job descriptions, compared to just 0.9% in 2020, marking a nearly 17-fold increase in employer demand over the past six years.
The report analysed more than 3 lakh job descriptions and gathered insights from nearly 27,000 professionals across 80+ industries and 15+ cities, highlighting how AI is reshaping hiring trends and career opportunities in India.
The study found that AI adoption is no longer limited to technology companies. Demand for AI skills in non-technology roles has also grown significantly. AI-related skill mentions in non-tech job descriptions have increased from 0.26% in 2020 to 1.59% in 2026, reflecting nearly six-fold growth. This suggests that AI is becoming a valuable workplace skill across business functions, including operations, marketing, finance and management.
The report also reveals that professionals with AI expertise continue to enjoy a clear salary advantage. Employees with AI skills earn higher median salaries than those without AI knowledge in both IT and non-IT sectors. AI-enabled roles have also witnessed stronger salary growth over the past four years, underlining the increasing business value of AI capabilities.
Hiring demand is strongest among experienced professionals. Recruiters are actively seeking candidates with 13 to 16 years and 16+ years of experience, especially for leadership roles offering annual salaries of ₹40 lakh to ₹50 lakh and above. This reflects organisations’ growing focus on hiring experienced talent to lead enterprise-wide AI transformation initiatives.
Among various functions, Product Management, Data Science & Analytics, and Engineering, Software & QA reported the highest use of AI in day-to-day work. According to Sumeet Singh, Group CMO, Info Edge (India) Ltd, AI is no longer a future trend but is already influencing job descriptions, workplace tools, hiring decisions and career growth.
The report concludes that while organisations are accelerating AI adoption, continued investment in workforce upskilling and AI education will be essential to unlock the technology’s full potential and prepare India’s workforce for the future.
