In 2026, the white-collar job market in India is experiencing important changes, although slowly, indicating a shift towards stable growth. According to the JobSpeak Index report from Info Edge (India) Limited, there has been a 3% annual increase in white-collar jobs, suggesting a return to stability in the job market. This improvement is largely driven by rising job opportunities in the non-IT sector and an uptick in recruitment for fresh graduates. Meanwhile, hiring in the traditional IT sector remains sluggish, pointing to a significant transformation in India's employment landscape.

The start of white-collar hiring in January 2026 was marked by the JobSpeak Index reaching a score of 2,637, up from over 2,550 in January 2025. This 3% annual growth reflects a market that is stabilizing after a prolonged period of volatility. While the pace of growth is still cautious and slow, experts believe it indicates potential recovery and improvement, particularly in the non-IT sectors which are becoming more active in hiring.

The ongoing improvements in financial conditions suggest that the job market is moving away from the instability that characterized previous years. However, the slow revival emphasizes the need for careful monitoring of the market dynamics as hiring trends evolve. Overall, while the growth in white-collar jobs is promising, it remains to be seen whether the momentum can sustain itself in the coming months as the impacts of artificial intelligence continue to reshape the employment landscape in India.