Adaptability Will Define Success in the Age of AI

Indeed India's Madhu Kurup discusses how flexibility and learning agility will shape the future of work in the country

- ANUBHUTI MATTA

From where I sit, hiring in India right now feels like driving on a clear road with a few sharp turns,” says Madhu Kurup, vice-president of engineering at Indeed India, a global job-matching and hiring platform. “There’s progress, but everyone’s keeping a hand on the brake. Companies are hiring, but they are doing so with intent and discipline.”

Job postings in India remain 69 percent above pre-pandemic levels, indicating that the formal sector continues to perform strongly and there may be signs of stabilisation. At the same time, in the current scenario, they fell 0.8 percent in September, the sixth consecutive monthly decline, and are 16 percent lower than a year ago, with companies increasingly focussed on finding candidates with skills that match evolving business needs.

As the market reflects cautious optimism, Kurup, who is based in Seattle, US, not only discusses India's evolving hiring landscape compared to the global scenario, but also sheds light on how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are impacting how the country works, learns, and hires. Edited excerpts:

Q How has India’s hiring landscape changed compared to global markets, especially since the advent of artificial intelligence (AI)?

In global markets, AI-based hiring is like assembling a seasoned orchestra, while in India, it’s like nurturing a new band: The available talent is abundant and enthusiastic, but you have to teach them the music as you go.

India is adopting AI talent faster than many global markets. One of the strongest drivers of growth remains AI—from eight percent a year ago, nearly 12 percent of job postings now mention AI. This creates a large, dynamic talent pool but also emphasises the importance of structured mentoring and skills development. From a strategic perspective, this is shaping India not just as a market for AI adoption, but as a testing ground for solutions that will influence global practices.