With the increasing adoption of AI across organisational functions, expertise in AI/ML (artificial intelligence and machine learning) and data analytics continue to dominate as the most in-demand tech job roles in India, according to a report by Indeed and IT industry body Nasscom.
The top five in-demand job roles include Data Scientist/Analyst, AI/ML Expert, Cybersecurity Specialist, Cloud Architect/Engineer, and DevOps Engineer, as highlighted in the fourth edition of the Future of Work 2024 report, released on Friday. The report notes a 1.6x increase in demand for AI-led job families, with cybersecurity surpassing Cloud to become the second-most sought-after domain.
The Hybrid Work Shift
While the future of work remains predominantly hybrid, the report indicates that the return to office is gaining momentum, with the average time spent in the office increasing by 1.2 times. Key drivers of this shift include the need for stronger cultural connections, enhanced cross-team collaboration, improved employee engagement, increased leadership interactions, role-specific or customer-driven requirements, and a more immersive learning experience.
To explore the future of Jobs, Workforce, and Workplace, Indeed and Nasscom launched the fourth edition of Future of Work report – Balancing Priorities in an AI-driven World at Indeed’s event, FutureWorks 2024. The report highlights key trends in the job market, the role of AI in recruitment, and updates to simplify, accelerate, and humanise hiring processes.
“Advancements in technologies, particularly AI and ML, are driving a transformation in the job market, reshaping the skills required—spanning both technical expertise and analytical or soft skills,” said Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Nasscom, according to media reports.
“With nearly 70 percent of respondents eager to apply new skills in real-world settings, the report underscores the need for organisations to bridge the gap between current readiness and future demands,” said Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales, Indeed India. “By combining human creativity with AI-driven innovation, businesses can lead confidently in this new era of work.”
Adoption of GenAI Tools Increased
The adoption of generative AI (GenAI) tools has increased over the past year, with the technology evolving from the proof-of-concept stage to widespread commercial applications. A significant portion of the workforce now actively uses GenAI for diverse applications, including coding, programming, content creation, and beyond.
The current and future workforce (students) particularly leverage AI/GenAI for learning and development, enhancing general knowledge, improving communication skills, seeking mentorship and advice, and exploring AI’s vast capabilities, according to the report.
Rise of the Gig Model
Regarding GenAI usage, around 55 percent of the current and future workforce are frequent users of GenAI. ChatGPT and CoPilot are the most commonly used tools. Gen Z and millennials continue to represent the majority of the tech workforce.
Additionally, there has been a noticeable increase in willingness among both the current and future workforce to embrace the gig model. “Approximately 35 percent of each group expressed openness to gig opportunities, a significant rise from 23 percent for the current workforce and 28 percent for the future workforce in the previous year,” according to the report.
HR processes are increasingly becoming tech-enabled across the value chain. AI, analytics, and cloud technologies form the “holy trinity” leading this shift, according to the report. Companies are leveraging AI in various aspects of the recruitment and hiring process, such as automating CV screening to identify relevant candidates, generating gender-neutral job descriptions, enhancing knowledge-sharing and learning initiatives, and streamlining candidate evaluation.
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