AI is creating more jobs than it cuts in India, but freshers are being squeezed
What happened: In August 2026, an analysis by the investment bank Nomura counted AI-related job announcements across Asia since 2022. For India it found about 83,100 AI-related hires against 31,921 jobs lost or cut because of AI, roughly 2.6 new jobs for every one lost. India was the biggest contributor to both, and Nomura called it “ground zero” for AI’s effect on jobs.
The catch: the new jobs and the lost jobs are not the same people.
- Lost jobs were often roles like customer support, now handled by chatbots.
- New jobs need specialised AI skills, degrees and experience. A support worker can’t simply switch to AI engineering.
- Companies are moving away from hiring freshers in bulk and training them, and instead hiring people who already have AI skills. Nomura calls this a “two-tier” job market.
The numbers come from reported company announcements, not a full count of all jobs, so treat them as a trend, not an exact total.
What it means for you:
- Learn to use AI tools in your own field, whether that’s accounts, design, teaching or sales. Employers increasingly expect it.
- Build proof: small projects, certificates and a portfolio you can show.
- Look for skills AI makes more valuable: judgement, checking AI’s work, talking to customers, and domain knowledge.
- Start free: YUVA AI for ALL and the job seekers’ guide.
Watch out: fake “AI job” offers and paid “placement” schemes are rising too. Real employers never ask you to pay.