India's Job Market Outlook 2024 records on a strong note, with a 9% year-on-year increase in hiring, according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index. The index, a key indicator for white-collar recruitment, reached 2,651 points in December, marking growth across several sectors.

The surge in hiring was led by the booming Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) sectors, which saw a remarkable 36% increase in job opportunities. Other sectors also experienced steady growth, with oil and gas (+13%), FMCG (+12%), and healthcare (+12%) all posting gains.

Geographically, South India played a significant role in driving recruitment. Cities like Chennai (+35%) and Bangalore (+21%) were at the forefront, contributing significantly to the overall momentum. Even Coimbatore and Hyderabad saw positive trends, with Coimbatore witnessing a 14% increase in fresher recruitment and a 52% rise in hiring by foreign multinational companies. Hyderabad recorded a 15% growth, largely driven by demand in the IT, consumer durables, and real estate sectors.

The entry-level job market, which had been slow for much of the year, showed signs of recovery in December with a 6% rise in recruitment. In particular, the architecture and interior design industry stood out for fresher hiring, growing by 39%. The FMCG sector also saw an 18% rise in fresher hiring, marking its highest increase for the year, while the beauty and wellness (+26%) and consumer durables (+19%) sectors followed suit.

Tech-related roles, especially machine learning engineers, showed exceptional growth, with a 71% increase, indicating a growing demand for AI-driven skills. Senior roles also saw a boost, with hiring for professionals with over 16 years of experience and high-salary positions (₹20+ lakh per annum) increasing by 29%. Specialized leadership roles, such as chief safety officers (+14%) and chief legal officers (+12%), also grew, signaling a shift towards diversification in executive positions.

Strategic and top management roles experienced a 17% rise, reflecting companies' focus on leadership in navigating the rapidly changing market environment.

Hiring in the consumer durables sector grew by 14%, with Bengaluru and Chennai leading the way, seeing growth rates of 21% and 35%, respectively. Additionally, the sales and marketing sector grew by 7%, with roles like campaign managers (+20%) seeing the highest rise, as companies strengthened their marketing teams.

Overall, South India's continued recruitment growth, particularly in tech-forward roles and leadership positions, showcases the region's prominence in shaping India's evolving job market.