India White-Collar Job Market Set for H2 2026 Expansion

India's white-collar job market is poised for expansion in the second half of 2026, according to data from Naukri and Taggd. A Naukri survey of over 540 senior HR leaders found that 97% anticipate continued hiring activity, with 79% expecting the creation of entirely new roles. Optimism is highest in the real estate, FMCG, and IT/Tech sectors, with peak recruitment expected in business development, marketing, and IT roles, particularly for professionals with 0-7 years of experience.

Artificial intelligence is shifting job requirements rather than eliminating positions. While 86% of HR leaders do not expect significant job losses due to AI, many anticipate the technology will generate new roles in analytics, marketing, and IT. However, recruiters report a persistent challenge in matching available skills with these rapidly evolving requirements.

Parallel findings from the Taggd GCC Talent Lab Survey 2026 show that 52% of Global Capability Centres in India plan to increase hiring for FY27, up from 47% last year. This growth is expected to create approximately 1.5 lakh new roles focused on AI, machine learning, cloud, and product engineering. Despite an 80% offer-to-join conversion rate, GCCs face a quality mismatch in talent and a thinning leadership pipeline. Regarding compensation, 58% of HR leaders expect salary increments to remain below 10%, though some sectors like manufacturing and real estate may see double-digit hikes.