Community SaysFree
CEO says: Naukri's Hitesh Oberoi sees AI and ML hiring up 32% in October
In short
- White-collar hiring in India rose 14% year on year in October, per Naukri JobSpeak.
- AI and ML roles grew 32%, while software and QA hiring rose just 1%.
- Tech job seekers should add real AI and ML project work to their profile.
Who: Hitesh Oberoi, CEO of Info Edge, which runs Naukri, commenting on the Naukri JobSpeak index for October 2026, reported on 4 November 2026.
What they said: "What's encouraging is the kind of hiring we're seeing," he said, adding that some of October's growth reflects last year's festive-season base.
Context: Naukri JobSpeak for October 2026 shows white-collar hiring in India up 14% year on year. Within that, AI and ML roles were up 32%, while software and QA hiring grew just 1%. So the overall rise is real, but the growth is concentrated in specific skills rather than spread across all tech roles.
What it means for you:
- If you are in software or QA, do not rely on general demand: add one or two AI or ML skills that fit your current work, and show them in a project.
- Compare your resume with a few AI and ML job descriptions to see which of your skills already match.
- Treat one strong month carefully: Oberoi himself points to a festive-season base effect, so keep applying steadily rather than waiting for a hiring wave.
Source: CareerIndia, 4 November 2026