Severe AI Talent Crunch: Only 10% of Open GenAI Roles Filled, Report Warns of Growing Skills Deficit

EduNe Bureau

India’s fast-expanding digital economy is grappling with a severe shortage of skilled professionals, with only 10% of all open Generative AI roles being fulfilled today.

According to TeamLease’s Digital Skills & Salary Primer 2025-26, this acute talent deficit is expected to worsen—deepening to 53% unless large-scale skilling initiatives are implemented.

The report, based on an analysis of 30,000 salaries across technology job roles, skills, and functions, highlights widening demand-supply gaps in frontier technologies. Cloud computing is projected to face a 55–60% shortage in the next two years, while AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity continue to redefine the future of work.

The scarcity of skilled talent is fueling a sharp rise in salaries. Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are emerging as key drivers, expected to contribute 22–25% of net new white-collar tech jobs in 2025, led by AI and cloud roles.

Of the 4.7 million new tech jobs projected by 2027, over 1.2 million will come from GCCs, particularly in Generative AI and engineering R&D. Within GCCs, GenAI engineering and MLOps are setting new pay benchmarks, while hiring expands beyond metros to Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering campuses, with an estimated 130,000–140,000 fresh graduates recruited in FY25.

Cybersecurity and data engineering remain foundational, with average salaries projected to rise from ₹28 lakh to ₹33.5 lakh and from ₹23 lakh to ₹27 lakh, respectively, between FY25 and FY27.

Senior cybersecurity professionals could earn up to ₹55 lakh, while senior data engineers may command ₹42 lakh annually. Cloud computing salaries are also rising, with senior Cloud Architects expected to earn up to ₹45 lakh. Product management has emerged as the fastest-growing skillset, with senior salaries set to rise 29% to ₹42 lakh by FY27, while cloud salaries are forecast to grow nearly 20% over the same period.

Outside GCCs, India’s IT products and services sector is undergoing rapid transformation, with hiring projected to grow 11% in FY26, creating more than 150,000 fresher positions. Non-tech sectors such as BFSI, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare are also ramping up recruitment for AI, cloud, and cybersecurity talent, while phasing out legacy roles. IT support and legacy systems maintenance salaries have stagnated at around ₹12 lakh annually, underscoring the industry’s shift toward cloud-native and outsourced service models.