Hiring’s back in 2026!
HL: Hiring’s back in 2026!
Strap: A study in India shows entry and mid-level roles dominating hiring plans for the first half of 2026
OB Bureau
India’s job market is heading into 2026 with confidence, momentum and a clear appetite for fresh hiring, with more than three-fourths of recruiters planning to create new roles in the first half of the year.
According to a bi-annual survey, 76% of recruiters across sectors are focused on job creation in H1 2026, signalling sustained optimism despite global economic uncertainties and ongoing debates around artificial intelligence and automation. The survey is based on insights from over 1,250 recruiters nationwide.
Healthcare is set to lead the hiring surge, with a striking 88% of recruiters in the sector expecting to add new jobs. The push reflects expanding demand across hospitals, diagnostics, allied health services and healthcare technology, making it one of the most talent-hungry sectors going into the new year.
Manufacturing is not far behind. About 79% of recruiters in the sector plan to create new roles in H1 2026, underlining renewed industrial activity and steady demand across production, operations and supply chain functions.
The BFSI sector is expected to take a more measured approach, but remains firmly in hiring mode. Around 70% of recruiters anticipate adding jobs, while the IT sector, often viewed as cautious amid global tech slowdowns, is projected to see hiring activity from 76% of recruiters.
At an overall level, IT and Business Development roles are expected to witness the highest hiring traction. About 45% of recruiters in each of these domains expect strong hiring activity in H1 2026 — a significant jump from H2 2025, when the figures stood at 37% and 20% respectively.
Despite widespread anxiety over AI-led job losses, recruiters appear largely unfazed. Nearly 87 %believe artificial intelligence will not significantly impact overall employment levels. In fact, expectations around AI-driven job creation are rising. While 13% of recruiters earlier predicted AI would create new roles, that figure has now climbed to 18 per cent, with opportunities emerging mainly in IT, analytics and marketing.
Hiring demand is also tilting clearly towards entry- and mid-level professionals. IT and manufacturing are driving demand for mid-level talent, while healthcare is aggressively hiring at the entry level. About 69% of IT recruiters expect peak demand for professionals with four to seven years of experience, while 65% of healthcare recruiters plan to hire candidates with zero to three years of experience.
The message for jobseekers is clear: hiring is broad-based, confidence is returning, and skills — especially adaptable, tech-aligned ones — remain the strongest currency in India’s evolving job market.