Artificial intelligence is emerging as a key workplace competency in India. A Naukri report states that 77 percent of professionals now apply it on the job, and those with AI abilities receive higher compensation than colleagues without such skills.
Demand for AI expertise in technology positions has grown nearly 17 times since 2020. AI skills appear in 15.4 percent of tech job postings, compared with 0.9 percent in 2020. In non-tech listings the share rose sixfold, from 0.26 percent to 1.59 percent, indicating wider adoption outside traditional technology fields.
The findings draw on responses from nearly 27,000 professionals across more than 80 industries and 15 cities, plus analysis of over 300,000 job descriptions.
Although AI use is common, organizational support lags. Only 35 percent of respondents received formal employer training. Another 23 percent learned independently, and 21 percent await company programs.
Recruiter interest favors advanced AI capabilities. Searches for Retrieval-Augmented Generation skills increased 4.8 times year on year, followed by Azure AI at 2.9 times and Large Language Models at 2.4 times. Openings for roles such as AI product managers and AI solution architects have risen.
Professionals with AI skills earn more. Median pay for IT staff with these abilities stands at Rs 13.7 lakh versus Rs 11.9 lakh without them. In non-IT fields the figures are Rs 11.3 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh respectively. AI-related positions have also seen stronger salary growth over four years.
Hiring is shifting toward senior levels. Demand grew fastest among workers with 13 to 16 years of experience, up 39 percent year on year, and among those with over 16 years, up 35 percent. Searches for roles paying Rs 40 lakh and above increased notably.
Many professionals are addressing skill gaps themselves. Nearly 79 percent said they are learning AI or plan to begin soon, including more than half of those with over 15 years of experience.
