Jobs in India 2027: 68% of Professionals Plan a Switch as AI Optimism Rises

Jobs in India in 2027 look set for a big churn. Nearly seven in ten Indian professionals plan to look for a new job next year, according to a survey of 9,951 professionals published on 4 November 2026, and most of them say artificial intelligence is an opportunity to grasp rather than a threat to fear.

The survey is foundit's Career Reset Survey 2027, carried out by the job and talent platform across India. It found that 68.4 per cent of respondents intend to actively explore new job opportunities in the coming year. Career growth, not pay, is the main driver, and the appetite to move stays strong even though many respondents also describe the job market as uncertain.

Jobs in India 2027: why professionals want to move

Career growth emerged as the biggest reason for switching jobs, cited by 40.3 per cent of respondents, ahead of higher salary at 29.7 per cent and better work-life balance at 20.3 per cent. That order matters: people are looking for a step up, not just a pay rise. When asked about their biggest career priorities, 29.6 per cent chose better work-life balance, followed by moving into a future-proof role at 27 per cent and earning significantly more at 26.4 per cent.

Only 3.7 per cent said they planned to stay and grow within their current organisations, while 18.1 per cent intended to stay but remain open to new opportunities. Put together, that leaves a large majority either actively looking or willing to be tempted, which is why employers should expect 2027 to be a year of heavy movement.

Tarun Sinha, the chief executive of foundit, said professionals are increasingly looking beyond immediate salary increases. His reading of the survey is that career growth is taking precedence over short-term financial gain, even though salary expectations remain high.

Pay expectations stay high

The survey found that 51.6 per cent of respondents expect a salary hike of at least 31 per cent to make a switch worthwhile. One in five expect an increase of more than 50 per cent, while 12.9 per cent said salary alone would not persuade them to move. Those are ambitious numbers, and they set up a test for employers: the people most likely to move are also the people expecting the biggest rises.

Confidence is high despite that tension. The survey found that 94.1 per cent of respondents are confident of finding a good job if needed. That confidence helps explain why so many are willing to look even in an uncertain market, and it also explains why employers who want to keep their best people will need more than a pay rise to do it.

AI is an opportunity, and workers are acting on it

Artificial intelligence is shaping how Indian professionals view their next move. The survey found that 82.1 per cent see AI as a career opportunity rather than a threat. Of those, 67 per cent are actively upgrading their skills to adapt to changing workplace requirements, while 15.2 per cent recognise the potential but have not yet taken action. Only 5.7 per cent expressed concern that AI could reduce job opportunities in their fields.

That optimism matches the hiring picture. AI jobs in India kept growing through October 2026, and the survey suggests the workers most likely to benefit are the ones already building AI skills. The AI training jobs open to consultants and the 13,514 AI startup roles open in November 2026 show where some of that demand sits.

The lesson for jobseekers is direct: the people planning to move in 2027 are also the people upskilling now. A candidate who can show real AI work, not just a course certificate, will stand out in a market where more than two-thirds of professionals are looking. The skills worth naming are the ones employers say they cannot automate: judgement, handling exceptions and managing relationships that AI mishandled.

What to do next

If you plan to look for a new job in 2027, start with the skills the survey points to. Pick one AI tool your field actually uses, learn it properly and build something real with it, then put that work where a hiring manager can see it. At the same time, be clear about what would make you move: the survey shows career growth matters more than pay alone, so a role with a real step up is worth more than a small rise in the same job.

Apply through the employer's own careers page or a known job platform, and never pay anyone for a job offer, an interview slot or a placement. Fake offers are common in high-demand markets, and a genuine employer never asks a candidate to pay. If an offer arrives through a chat message from a stranger, check it against the company's own website before replying.

At a glance	Details
Survey	foundit Career Reset Survey 2027, published 4 November 2026
Respondents	9,951 professionals across India
Plan to look for a new job in 2027	68.4%
Top reason to switch	Career growth, 40.3%; higher salary, 29.7%; better work-life balance, 20.3%
Expect a hike of at least 31%	51.6%; one in five expect more than 50%
See AI as an opportunity	82.1%; 67% are actively upskilling; only 5.7% are concerned AI will cut opportunities
Confident of finding a good job	94.1%
Plan to stay and grow where they are	Only 3.7%; 18.1% will stay but remain open to offers

Sources: CNBC TV18 at https://www.cnbctv18.com/education/68-of-indian-professionals-plan-to-look-for-new-jobs-in-2027-82-see-ai-as-opportunity-survey-20027931.htm on the foundit Career Reset Survey 2027; Business Standard at https://www.business-standard.com/finance/personal-finance/68-of-indian-professionals-to-look-for-new-jobs-51-expect-31-hike-126110400839_1.html on the pay expectations; and BusinessToday at https://www.businesstoday.in/jobs/story/7-in-10-indian-professionals-plan-job-switch-in-2027-half-seek-over-30-salary-hike-survey-565650-2026-11-04 on the detailed breakdown.