77% of Indian Professionals Use AI at Work, Report Reveals

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now a workplace staple for 77% of Indian professionals, with those possessing AI skills earning significantly higher salaries than their peers, according to Naukri’s World AI Day Report 2026. The report highlights a 17-fold surge in demand for AI expertise in tech jobs since 2020, underscoring the transformative impact of AI on employment trends in India.

AI Skills Expand Beyond Tech Roles

The report reveals that AI-related skills are no longer confined to traditional tech jobs. In 2020, just 0.9% of tech job descriptions mentioned AI skills, a figure that has now risen to 15.4%. Non-tech roles are also seeing a sharp increase, with mentions of AI skills growing sixfold from 0.26% to 1.59% over the same period. This trend indicates that AI adoption is spreading across industries.

The findings are based on a comprehensive survey of nearly 27,000 professionals across 80 industries and 15 cities in India, alongside an analysis of over three lakh job descriptions and hiring data from the Naukri platform.

Upskilling Gap Persists Despite Widespread AI Use

While AI usage is widespread, the report highlights a gap in organisational readiness. Only 35% of professionals reported receiving formal AI training from their employers. Another 23% have resorted to self-learning, while 21% are still waiting for training opportunities. This reflects a growing reliance on individual initiative for AI upskilling.

Demand for Specialised AI Skills and Roles Soars

Recruiters are increasingly seeking specialised AI expertise over basic knowledge. Skills like Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) saw a 4.8x growth in demand year-on-year, followed by Azure AI (2.9x), Large Language Models (2.4x), AI Solutions (2.1x), and Prompt Engineering (1.6x).

This surge in demand has also led to the rise of specialised roles such as AI product managers, AI solution architects, AI platform engineers, and AI trainers.

AI Skills Boost Salaries Across Sectors

Professionals with AI expertise are reaping financial rewards. IT workers with AI skills earn a median salary of ₹13.7 lakh, compared to ₹11.9 lakh for their non-AI-skilled counterparts. Similarly, non-IT professionals with AI capabilities earn ₹11.3 lakh, significantly higher than the ₹7.5 lakh median salary for those without such skills. AI-enabled roles have also recorded stronger salary growth over the past four years.

Senior Professionals Lead AI Upskilling Efforts

The report highlights a growing demand for senior professionals with AI expertise. Hiring for individuals with 13 to 16 years of experience grew by 39% year-on-year, while demand for those with over 16 years of experience increased by 35%. High-paying roles in the ₹40-49 lakh and ₹50 lakh-plus salary brackets also saw sharp growth, reflecting a focus on experienced leaders capable of driving AI transformation.

Meanwhile, professionals are taking charge of their own upskilling. Nearly 79% of respondents said they are either learning AI or plan to start soon. Among those with over 15 years of experience, more than half (52%) are actively upskilling in AI.

Why It Matters

The findings underscore AI’s rapid integration into the Indian workforce and its potential to reshape careers across industries. However, the gap in organisational training highlights the need for companies to invest more in structured upskilling programs to fully harness AI’s potential. With demand for specialised AI skills and senior talent on the rise, professionals who proactively adopt AI expertise stand to gain a significant edge in the evolving job market.

Source: Indian Express