India witnessed nearly 3.5 lakh artificial intelligence (AI)-related job openings over the past 90 days, highlighting the rapid expansion of AI hiring across industries, according to a report released by Quess Corp.

The report estimates that India is home to approximately 9.2 lakh AI professionals, making it one of the world’s largest AI talent pools. Despite this, employers continue to face challenges in recruiting skilled professionals for specialised AI roles, as demand significantly exceeds the available talent.

According to the findings, only around 2.57 lakh professionals currently work in advanced AI disciplines, including large language models (LLMs), machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and agentic AI. These high-demand specialisations account for nearly 70% of current AI hiring requirements, creating a significant talent shortage.

The report identifies some of the largest hiring gaps in emerging AI domains such as generative AI, prompt engineering, AI deployment engineering, and AI governance. Organisations are increasingly seeking professionals who can successfully implement AI technologies in production environments rather than limiting projects to experimental stages.

Demand for agentic AI developers has grown rapidly during the past year, alongside increased recruitment for AI software engineers and professionals with expertise in Model Context Protocol (MCP) systems. These roles are becoming increasingly important as businesses accelerate AI adoption and develop more autonomous AI applications.

Hiring trends also indicate a growing preference for experienced candidates. Nearly half of all AI job openings are targeted at professionals with three to five years of experience, reflecting employers’ focus on candidates capable of delivering AI solutions with minimal onboarding. Meanwhile, recruitment of entry-level talent across the broader technology sector has declined compared with the previous year.

The report notes that AI hiring is expanding beyond traditional technology departments. Around 1.2 lakh openings were reported in business functions such as sales, marketing, finance, and operations, where organisations are looking for professionals who can integrate AI into business processes, improve productivity, and support digital transformation initiatives.

While automation continues to reshape workplace responsibilities, the report suggests that AI is creating new opportunities alongside changing existing roles. Businesses are increasingly investing in professionals who combine technical AI expertise with industry-specific knowledge to support long-term innovation and operational efficiency.

With AI adoption accelerating across sectors, the demand for specialised talent is expected to remain strong, making workforce development and upskilling critical priorities for employers in the coming years.

Indian fintech company Paytm is planning to expand its workforce by approximately 4,000 employees as it increases investments in artificial intelligence and strengthens its merchant-focused business operations, according to reports.

The recruitment initiative is expected to continue through March 2027 and will cover a range of functions, including product development, technology, artificial intelligence, and senior leadership positions. The planned hiring would represent an increase of nearly 10% over the company’s current workforce of around 40,000 employees.

Reports indicate that Paytm has added more than 800 employees in recent months and is continuing to recruit across multiple business areas. The hiring plans are aligned with the company’s focus on AI-driven product development and merchant services.

The expansion comes as Paytm’s parent company, One97 Communications, continues efforts to strengthen its business following regulatory actions involving Paytm Payments Bank. The company has reported profitability for four consecutive quarters, according to its recent financial disclosures.

In 2025, Paytm reduced its workforce by more than 4,500 positions as part of operational restructuring following restrictions imposed on its payments bank business. Reports suggest that a limited number of additional roles could be affected during the current performance review cycle, although any reductions are expected to be significantly smaller than previous workforce cuts.

The company is placing increased emphasis on artificial intelligence as it seeks to improve customer experiences, streamline operations, and develop new digital products. The planned hiring reflects broader industry trends, with technology and fintech companies investing in AI-related capabilities while expanding key business functions.

The recruitment drive is expected to create opportunities across technology, product management, artificial intelligence, and leadership roles over the coming months.

Healthcare-focused digital transformation and engineering company Emids plans to hire 1,000 Forward-Deployed Context Engineers (FDCEs) over the next year as part of its efforts to expand the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare operations.

According to the company, healthcare Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are increasingly seeking professionals with expertise in both healthcare processes and AI technologies to support operational transformation.

Abhishek Shankar, Chief Executive Officer of Emids, said healthcare organizations are looking to derive greater value from their GCCs as AI adoption accelerates. He said this requires professionals who understand healthcare workflows and can apply AI solutions to business challenges.

Emids defines FDCEs as AI-enabled specialists working within functions such as claims processing, prior authorization, care management, and member engagement. The company said these roles are intended to help organizations implement AI-driven solutions more quickly by leveraging existing workflows and data.

The company plans to build a team of at least 1,000 FDCEs across India and the Philippines by 2027. Emids said approximately half of the positions will be filled through new hiring, while the remainder will be created through reskilling existing employees. The company currently employs more than 1,500 people in India.

Industry participants have noted a growing demand for professionals who can combine knowledge of the U.S. healthcare sector with expertise in artificial intelligence. Companies such as Emids are investing in training and talent development to address this skills gap.

US telecommunications company T-Mobile has expanded its footprint in India with the inauguration of a new Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad. The company announced plans to hire approximately 1,000 professionals by 2027 as it strengthens its technology, engineering, and cybersecurity operations.

The new facility spans nearly 250,000 square feet and is designed to support T-Mobile’s global business functions. The centre will focus on key areas including software engineering, product development, DevOps, data analytics, and cybersecurity.

According to the company, the Hyderabad GCC will contribute to the development of technology solutions, support operational efficiency initiatives, and help enhance digital infrastructure across its global operations. The centre is also expected to support innovation and expand engineering capabilities for the company worldwide.

The move highlights the growing role of Global Capability Centres in India. GCCs, which were once primarily focused on support services, are increasingly taking on responsibilities related to technology development, analytics, innovation, and business transformation for multinational companies.

T-Mobile’s latest investment further strengthens Hyderabad’s position as a major technology and GCC destination in India. The city continues to attract multinational firms seeking access to skilled professionals in areas such as software development, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and data science.

The hiring plans come as T-Mobile continues to invest in strategic growth areas, including digital technologies and advanced engineering capabilities, while expanding its global workforce presence in key markets.

McDonald’s India – North and East has provided employment opportunities to more than 1,500 young people across the Delhi NCR region through its youth-focused workforce development programme, “McDonald’s for Youth.”

The initiative, implemented in collaboration with local non-governmental organizations and community groups, aims to help young individuals from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad enter the formal workforce. The programme focuses on supporting youth from underserved communities by combining employment opportunities with workplace skills training.

Participants receive structured training based on McDonald’s global learning framework. The curriculum covers customer service, communication, restaurant operations, cash handling, food safety, hygiene practices, teamwork, and professional development. The company says these skills are designed to enhance employability across the broader service sector.

Since its launch, the programme has expanded beyond Delhi NCR into several states, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. The initiative increasingly emphasizes community-based outreach, with local teams and partner organizations engaging directly with villages and neighborhoods to raise awareness about employment opportunities.

According to the company, the programme seeks to improve workforce participation by connecting young people with structured job opportunities and practical workplace experience. Through partnerships with grassroots organizations, it has been able to reach individuals who may have limited access to formal employment pathways.

Speaking about the initiative, Rajeev Ranjan said the company aims to provide young people with opportunities to learn, grow, and build careers. He noted that the programme has supported more than 2,500 young individuals in taking their first steps into the workforce since its inception.

Rajesh Soundararajan highlighted the role of community partnerships in helping youth gain confidence, workplace readiness, and financial independence through meaningful employment opportunities.

Following the completion of the current phase, McDonald’s India – North and East plans to further expand the programme, continuing its efforts to support youth employment and workforce development across multiple regions of India.

The initiative reflects a broader focus on skill development and employability, helping young people gain professional experience while contributing to the growth of India’s service-sector workforce.

Salesforce Chairman and CEO Marc Benioff reiterated the company’s focus on AI-driven productivity and human-AI collaboration during a recent episode of the “All-In” podcast, outlining how artificial intelligence is reshaping workforce planning and enterprise operations.

Speaking about the evolving software industry and the rise of AI agents, Benioff said Salesforce has been able to improve productivity significantly through the use of AI tools such as Agentforce and coding assistants. He referred to the company’s earlier decision to pause additional software engineering hires in 2025, a move he had previously linked to productivity gains exceeding 30%.

Salesforce, which employs around 83,000 people and generates approximately $46 billion in annual revenue, has increasingly integrated AI tools into sales, support and software development operations. According to Benioff, AI agents are enabling employees and customers to interact more directly with systems, reducing reliance on traditional software workflows.

Despite limiting traditional software engineering recruitment, Salesforce announced in April 2026 that it would hire around 1,000 new graduates to support AI platform development and related initiatives. The company continues to position AI as a tool for augmenting employee capabilities rather than replacing human contribution entirely.

Benioff also highlighted the importance of leadership clarity, company culture and long-term value creation during the podcast discussion. He cautioned against focusing solely on stock market performance and stressed the role of employee motivation and customer value in building resilient businesses.

The discussion reflects a broader trend across the technology sector, where companies are reassessing hiring strategies, investing in automation and encouraging workforce upskilling to adapt to AI-enabled operations. Salesforce’s approach suggests a growing emphasis on integrating AI systems alongside human teams while managing workforce growth more selectively.