Hiring sentiment in India's white-collar job market remains firmly optimistic heading into the first half of 2026, with recruiters signalling strong intent to add new roles rather than merely replace existing ones, according to the latest Hiring Outlook H1 2026 released by Naukri.
The bi-annual survey, based on responses from over 1,250 recruiters, shows that 95% expect to hire in H1 2026. More importantly, 76% anticipate new job creation, up from 72% in H2 2025-signalling expansion across sectors despite global uncertainty.
Recruiters appear increasingly confident that demand conditions will support fresh hiring rather than just replacement-led recruitment.
Healthcare, Manufacturing Lead Job Creation
Healthcare and manufacturing are expected to be the most confident sectors for new roles. As many as 88% of healthcare recruiters and 79% of manufacturing recruiters foresee job creation in the coming months.
The BFSI sector, while relatively more conservative, still shows resilience, with 70% of recruiters expecting new roles. IT, often seen as a barometer for white-collar hiring, also remains stable, with 76% anticipating job creation.
IT And Business Development See Strongest Momentum
In terms of functions, IT and business development are set to witness the highest hiring momentum in H1 2026. Around 45% of recruiters in both segments expect elevated hiring activity, a sharp jump from H2 2025.
Sector-specific trends suggest BFSI will prioritise financial roles, manufacturing will focus on operations and supply chain, while healthcare firms are likely to strengthen marketing teams.
Entry- And Mid-level Talent In Demand
Demand continues to skew towards entry- and mid-level professionals.
Nearly 69% of IT recruiters expect the strongest demand for mid-level talent with 4-7 years of experience, while 65% of healthcare recruiters are targeting candidates with 0-3 years of experience.
Pay Hikes Measured, Attrition Stable
Despite strong hiring intent, salary increments are expected to remain modest. About 59% of recruiters expect average hikes to stay below 10%, while over three-fourths anticipate attrition to remain under 15%. Attrition pressures are expected to be highest in IT, followed by business development and marketing roles.
Contrary to fears of job losses, 87% of recruiters believe AI will not significantly reduce employment. In fact, 18% now expect AI-driven creation of new roles, particularly in IT, analytics and marketing-up from 13% in the previous survey-underscoring the growing importance of upskilling in an AI-led hiring cycle.
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