Naukri JobSpeak: FY27 Opens at 6% Growth as Insurance leads the pack; Banking and IT Sectors Remain Under Pressure

India, 01 May 2026: India’s white-collar job market opened FY27 on a healthy note, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index reaching 3,045 points in April 2026 - a 6% YOY increase from 2,878 points in April 2025. The February-to-April 3-month moving average stood at 9% YOY growth.

Insurance led sectoral growth at +21% YOY, followed by BPO/ITES (+15%), Real Estate (+12%), Healthcare (+11%), and Education (+9%). In contrast, the Telecom & Banking sectors continued their four-month decline, falling -11% & -10% respectively in April, while IT, Pharma & Auto remained largely flat. GCC hiring also dipped by -4%.

In terms of experience level- fresher hiring (0–3 years) grew by a healthy +11% YOY, demand for 20+ LPA roles expanded +15%, and AI/ML roles sustained their strong trajectory at +32% for over a year.

Among the top metros, the southern cities dominated in April. Hyderabad led at +12% YOY, followed by Bengaluru (+7%) and Chennai (+6%). Delhi NCR (+3%) saw modest single-digit growth, Kolkata remained largely flat (+1%), and Mumbai was the only major metro in negative territory at -3%.

Beyond the metros, emerging cities like Jaipur (+12%), Coimbatore (+11%), and Ahmedabad (+7%) continued to post firm growth, underlining the spread of hiring demand into tier-II markets.

Hitesh Oberoi, MD & CEO, Info Edge, said, “Hiring activity continues to show steady momentum, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index recording a 6% year-on-year growth. Sectors such as Insurance, Real Estate, and Healthcare are driving this expansion, reflecting both structural demand and increased consumer activity. While IT hiring remains stable, we are seeing some moderation in Banking. Overall, the job market remains resilient, with sectoral shifts shaping the hiring landscape.”

Insurance Cements Its Position as the Fastest-Growing Major Sector

Insurance was the top-performing sector in April at +21% YOY, extending its run of consistent double-digit growth observed over the past 6 months. The expansion was geographically broad-based, with Bengaluru (+29%), Chennai (+27%), and Mumbai (+18%) all contributing meaningfully. Notably, fresher hiring in insurance surged +43% YOY, pointing to aggressive capacity-building at the entry level. The 4–7 year cohort also grew a strong +25%.

Related Reading: More Naukri JobSpeak Reports

IT Sector Stays Flat; Demand Concentrated in High-Value Roles

The IT sector posted +1% YoY growth in April, extending the near-flat trend seen over the past 4 quarters. Beneath the headline, hiring trends show a clear salary-based divide: roles in the 20+ LPA band grew by 11%, while the 4–7 LPA and 8–12 LPA brackets each declined by 11%. Growth at the top end of the pay scale, coupled with softness in mid-level hiring, has been a recurring theme in the sector’s performance over the past 3 months.

Related Reading: IT Hiring Shows Meaningful Recovery and AI Momentum Continues

AI/ML Hiring Tilts Towards Experienced Professionals as the Market Matures

AI/ML hiring grew +32% YoY in April, extending its strong two-year momentum. Demand, however, is increasingly skewed toward experienced talent. Professionals with 13–16 years of experience saw the highest growth at +53%, followed by 8–12 years (+34%) and 16+ years (+33%). Fresher hiring remained positive at +16%, but grew at a slower pace. The most in-demand AI/ML roles were Machine Learning Engineer, Search Engineer, Data Scientist, and Data Platform Engineer.

Related Reading:

• Naukri AI Jobs Report
• Popular Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Careers

Tier-II Cities Power the Fresher Hiring Momentum

Fresher hiring grew +11% YOY at the pan-India level, with tier-II cities leading the charge. Jaipur stood out at +22%, followed by Ahmedabad at +15%. Coimbatore (+8%) and Baroda (+5%) also posted steady gains, reinforcing the broader pattern of entry-level demand spreading beyond the traditional metro hubs.

Related Reading: High-Paying Skills in India