India’s Hiring Intent Rebounds to 11% for 2026: Report
BFSI, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors to lead job growth; AI reshaping recruitment trends.
- Hiring intent in India rises to 11% for 2026, after a year of muted growth.
- BFSI, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors drive job creation.
- AI tools used by 60% of recruiters for screening and 45% for interview automation.
- Tier II cities to account for 32% of new jobs as regional hubs expand.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Nov: India’s hiring sentiment is on the rise again, with overall hiring intent rebounding to 11 per cent for 2026, up from 9.75 per cent last year, according to the India Decoding Jobs 2026 Report released by digital recruitment platform Taggd in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The report attributes this renewed momentum to formalisation, digital acceleration, and regional expansion, marking a shift from recovery to reinvention in the country’s employment landscape.
“This resurgence marks a shift from recovery to reinvention, powered by digital acceleration, formalisation, and regional expansion,” said Devashish Sharma, Co-Founder and CEO of Taggd. The report, based on inputs from over 300 talent leaders across 21 industries, provides a comprehensive data-backed overview of India’s evolving job market.
The BFSI, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors are expected to spearhead hiring in 2026, while technology continues to redefine how companies recruit. The study reveals that 60 per cent of recruiters now use artificial intelligence for resume screening and 45 per cent for interview automation, making AI-related skills increasingly essential.
Employers are actively seeking talent skilled in Generative AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics, and sustainability, with rising demand for AI/ML engineers, solutions architects, and digital specialists.
The report also highlights that experienced professionals with 6–15+ years of experience will see greater demand, as companies prioritise mid- and senior-level hiring over entry-level recruitment.
Tier II cities continue to emerge as critical employment hubs, accounting for 32 per cent of projected jobs in 2026, driven by the rise of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) seeking cost-effective and skilled regional talent.
Female hiring, however, is expected to remain steady at 30 per cent in FY 2026–27, slightly below pre-pandemic highs of 36 per cent recorded in 2024.
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