AI-driven hiring surge anticipated in India for 2024: Report

A recent report reveals that 59 per cent of employees in India are confident about adapting to and utilising AI tools, signalling a significant shift in hiring practices for the upcoming year. The study emphasises the increasing acceptance of AI in the workplace, with 19 per cent of surveyed employers already implementing or planning to implement next-generation technologies, including generative AI (Gen AI).

The Indeed report underscores the pivotal role of AI in employers’ hiring strategies, with 42 per cent expressing a commitment to ethical AI principles in their hiring processes. Employers also anticipate a rise in human-AI collaboration (37 per cent) and plan to focus on reskilling/upskilling their workforce (25 per cent) to meet evolving skill demands.

In terms of employee skills, the study highlights a shift from Gen AI skills (27 per cent) and programming languages (22 per cent) in the current year to a growing demand for cybersecurity (37 per cent) and data science and analytics (29 per cent) skills.

The study also sheds light on employers’ strategies for catering to the expectations of Generation Z (Gen Z) employees in 2024. Gen Z preferences include flexible work arrangements (38 per cent), purpose-driven work (23 per cent), and technology-driven environments (18 per cent). Employers plan to align with these preferences by prioritising flexible work arrangements (26 per cent), technology-driven environments (24 per cent), and professional development opportunities (20 per cent) to attract and retain Gen Z talent.

In addition, diversity and inclusion are expected to take centrestage in the coming year, with 47 per cent of employers expressing intentions to adopt robust diversity and inclusion policies. The study suggests that purpose-driven work will be a crucial focus for employers in their efforts to meet the evolving expectations of the workforce.