Entry-level IT jobs slip while AI positions grow to 4%

According to the latest data from a major job portal, entry‑level information‑technology employment in India has fallen by roughly twenty‑five percent over the past twelve months. In contrast, AI‑related openings have expanded sharply, moving from a modest one percent share to four percent of all entry‑level hires.

Employers are increasingly looking for candidates who can not only develop AI models but also manage, verify and adapt these systems in production environments. The decline in fresh graduate hiring—from 32 percent of total IT recruitment last year to 24 percent this year—signals that companies are drawing tech talent from a wider range of industries, including finance, manufacturing, healthcare and global capability centres.

The IT Occupation Index recorded a ten‑percent annual increase, whereas the broader IT Industry Index saw a six‑percent dip, suggesting that while overall sector demand is rising, it is being distributed across non‑traditional IT domains.