Pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and oil and gas were among the top hirers for niche profiles like artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), cybersecurity, cloud computing, data science and big data analytics and blockchain in 2024. Due to the increasing demand for these profiles, and the shortage of experienced talent, companies led by GCCs (global capability centres) paid up to 30% higher salaries for these profiles, bringing the average pay appreciation to around 20% over 2023, staffing experts said.
“From 2023-2024, super-niche tech skills such as AI, ML, Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Blockchain experienced substantial pay increases, with compensation rising by 15-20%. This growth is primarily driven by the high demand for these specialised skills and the limited availability of qualified talent in these fields,” Krishna Vij, vice-president, TeamLease Digital, said.Apart from sectors like automobile and banking and financial services, segments like pharma/biotech, FMCG, and oil and gas emerged as significant hirers for these profiles.
As companies move to digitalise their operations and processes, enterprises are increasingly using a hybrid model where they not only outsource a part of their digital services requirements to IT/ITES companies, but also are growing their own tech talent pool, resulting in increased demand for these profiles.
Across functions like AI, cloud computing and data analytics are reshaping business strategies, including sectors like pharma and oil and gas, which have a heavy dependence on research and development, staffing executives said.
“Pharmaceuticals leverage advanced analytics to fast-track drug discovery and deliver personalised medicine, while in oil and gas, these technologies drive smarter resource exploration and boost operational safety,” Sachin Alug, CEO, staffing firm NLB Services, said. For financial institutions ML is used for smarter fraud detection and risk management and consumer goods companies use data science to anticipate demand and tailor marketing strategies.
The unifying factor is the ability to turn vast data volumes into actionable insights, delivering competitive advantages and operational efficiency, making this niche talent pool attractive across sectors.As India becomes a preferred destination to set up GCCs, demand for niche talents is expected to continue rising.
“In sectors like Automotive, BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, GCCs are often at the forefront of hiring for specialised roles and driving the demand,” Vij said. “GCCs in India are taking on a wider role, going beyond the finance and IT functions. Companies are now looking at India as a centre for research and development which requires hiring experienced talent from India,” a senior executive with a financial services GCC with multiple centres in India said.
In 2025, the demand for these profiles is only expected to increase, leading to another round of pay appreciation, though at a lower rate.“In the Indian tech industry for 2025, specialised skills in engineering and finance, particularly in AI, machine learning and cloud computing, are expected to see a salary hike of 9-10%. This rise is largely driven by two key factors: the growing shortage of these highly sought-after skills and the increasing demand from businesses that are prioritising digital transformation,” Alug said.