India AI hiring growth 59.5% made the country the fastest-growing market for AI roles, according to LinkedIn data cited by MSN News on April 25, 2026, covering India and global markets, highlighting rising demand for applied AI talent across sectors and cities. The data also shows that hiring is no longer limited to major tech hubs. Instead, companies are expanding recruitment across multiple regions to meet growing demand.
India AI hiring growth 59.5% expands beyond metro hubs
Hiring growth is now spreading across multiple cities. Bengaluru remains a key hub with about 3% of LinkedIn members working in AI roles. However, other cities are recording faster growth, showing a shift in where companies are expanding their AI workforce.
Hyderabad recorded 51% growth in AI hiring. Vijayawada followed with 45.5%. This shift shows that hiring is moving beyond traditional tech centres.
LinkedIn report AI hiring growth India explained
This trend reflects a broader shift in hiring patterns. National growth is now outpacing city-level growth in several countries. In India, it shows demand spreading across regions rather than staying limited to major hubs. As a result, more cities are becoming active in AI hiring. This shift is helping companies access wider talent pools and reduce dependence on a few established centres.
The report indicates that companies are hiring talent closer to operational centres. As a result, smaller cities are becoming part of the AI workforce network.
Impact on companies and hiring strategy
India AI hiring growth 59.5% is changing how companies recruit talent. Large firms still employ around 4% of AI talent within their workforce. However, small and mid-sized businesses are increasing hiring at a faster pace.
These firms are focusing on practical AI skills. They are hiring for roles that support real-world deployment instead of experimental work.
Skills demand and sector-level changes
India AI hiring growth 59.5% is also visible in skill demand. Companies are prioritising skills such as AI agents, AI productivity tools, and automated feature engineering. These skills support operational use of AI systems.
Manufacturing is also expanding AI hiring. The sector’s AI workforce share reached about 2% in 2025 after steady growth since 2016. Companies are using AI for production and supply chain tasks.
