There’s much speculation on how AI will impact the job market, and the CEO of one of the largest job portals in the country has chimed in with what they’re seeing on the ground.
Naukri.com CEO Hitesh Oberoi has said that while AI will automate some roles, they’re already seeing new positions emerge as a result of the new technology. He added that AI would likely slow down hiring in traditional IT companies, but could create new jobs in verticals like AI implementation and prompt engineering.
“The impact of AI on jobs isn’t uni-dimensional,” Oberoi posted on X. “While some roles will be automated, we’re seeing new positions emerge. The net effect is changing skill requirements, not necessarily fewer jobs. Yes, AI could moderate hiring growth in traditional IT services companies. Companies that primarily offer basic application development and testing may hire fewer entry level programmers. But the same companies or newer ones will also aggressively recruit for AI implementation, prompt engineering, and domain specialists,” he said.
Oberoi said that employees versed with AI skills would be able to command higher salaries than those without. “Meanwhile, Global Capability Centers are expanding rapidly in India. These aren’t just cost arbitrage centers anymore—they are moving up the value chain and could become innovation hubs with AI at their core. GCCs may grow faster going forward creating significant new job opportunities. The compensation landscape is likely to transform dramatically as well. AI capable professionals may see 40-70% salary jumps when changing jobs, while traditional roles face wage stagnation. This growing disparity could create a bifurcated job market like we’ve never seen before,” he added.
Oberoi said that India could play a big role in the AI revolution if it played its cards right. “India has a unique opportunity in the global AI landscape. With the world facing a shortage of AI specialists and India’s technical education foundation, we can position ourselves to become a global AI talent hub—if we can rapidly evolve our skill development ecosystem. AI is a horizontal technology. Different sectors will experience AI impact at varying speeds. AI can help create massive opportunities in Healthcare, Education and Financial services especially in under served geographies and segments. Customer service, operations and administrative roles face higher automation risk. This sectoral divergence requires nuanced navigation,” he added.
He also said that AI could help spur GDP growth in India, but it might not necessarily bring with it new jobs. “A fascinating possibility – India could achieve 6-7% GDP growth with fewer net new jobs due to AI-driven productivity gains. On the other hand, AI could also help us grow faster as an economy and help create more jobs overall. The jobs created may offer higher wages and better working conditions than many of those automated. Demand for AI skills could also lead to higher attrition and workforce mobility. This increased churn is likely to drive more activity on our platforms even if net new job creation moderates,” he added.
Oberoi urged jobseekers to build their AI skills to remain competitive in an evolving marketplace. “For job seekers, the message is clear: Develop skills that complement AI rather than compete with it. Problem solving, creativity, domain expertise, and AI literacy will be far more valuable than routine skills that can be automated. Continuous learning is no longer optional. Companies won’t just hire differently—they will structure and organise differently. We will see flatter hierarchies, more project-based work, and hybrid teams of humans and AI. Organisations that adapt their entire operating model will outperform those just implementing AI tools,” he said.