AI Isn’t Just Taking Jobs — It’s Changing Who Gets Hired Artificial intelligence is reshaping India’s job market in ways that extend far beyond layoffs. As companies automate routine tasks and demand new skills, the broader disruption lies in how hiring priorities are shifting. Fewer entry-level opportunities, evolving career paths, and a growing emphasis on workers who can collaborate with AI are emerging as key trends. While AI-driven automation is a factor, experts argue that many workforce changes are tied to broader corporate restructuring, cost pressures, and sector-specific challenges. Major layoffs in recent years have coincided with aggressive AI adoption, but the underlying reasons often go beyond technology. For example, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, announced plans in 2025 to cut around 12,200 jobs. However, CEO K Krithivasan attributed the cuts to a skills mismatch rather than AI-driven productivity gains. Similarly, Amazon reduced its workforce by approximately 30,000 between October 2025 and January 2026, citing the need to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency. While AI and automation were acknowledged as contributing factors, the company also pointed to over-hiring during the pandemic and slowing demand in certain sectors. Oracle’s workforce declined by about 21,000 during fiscal 2026, with restructuring, management changes, and strategic shifts cited as primary reasons. Experts emphasize that AI is often used as a convenient explanation for workforce decisions already in motion. Sudarshan Sharda of Positive Moves noted that while AI is compressing roles focused on repetitive, structured tasks, many layoffs are linked to cost pressures, over-hiring during the pandemic, or sector-specific corrections.#amazon #tata_consultancy_services #oracle #k_krithivasan #nasscom_indeed
