AI Now Drives 86% of Campus Hiring
Deloitte India's Campus Workforce Trends 2026 report reveals a major shift in campus hiring: 86% of employers now use AI or Agentic AI in recruitment, with resume screening (72%) and AI-based assessments (48%) leading the way. AI is also reshaping entry-level demand—35% of organisations report new roles or skill requirements from AI, up from 21% in FY25. Skills premiums are concentrated in AI and data capabilities, commanding 20-25% pay bumps, while analytical thinking adds 10-15%. Compensation growth remains modest (2-6% CAGR), but institute tier still drives huge gaps—Top 10 MBA grads earn INR27.4 lakh vs INR8.4 lakh for Tier 3. Internship-to-hire is strengthening, with PPO conversion rates improving and infant attrition dropping from 18% to 15%. Key signal: 86% of Indian employers now use AI or Agentic AI in campus hiring, and 35% say AI is creating new entry-level roles, up from 21% in FY25. For hiring leaders, this matters because for CHROs and TA leaders, this signals that campus hiring is no longer just about volume—it's a strategic, AI-driven, skills-first battleground. The 20-25% premium for AI and data skills means compensation models must evolve beyond degree and institute tier to include demonstrable skills. The rise of AI in hiring processes also demands that recruiters upskill in AI tools and data interpretation. With 50% of FY26 targets being women, diversity is now a hard metric. The report's data on PPO conversion and attrition suggests that investing in internships and behavioural assessments can improve retention, a key cost lever. Teksands view: This is a wake-up call for any employer still treating campus hiring as a manual, CV-sifting exercise. AI is now the default, and the data shows it's creating real premiums for AI skills. If you're not investing in AI-driven screening and skills-based assessments, you're already behind. The 20-25% premium for AI roles is a market signal—pay up or lose out. Also, the drop in infant attrition (18% to 15%) suggests that better matching via AI and internships pays off. Start there.
Key fact
86% of Indian employers now use AI or Agentic AI in campus hiring, and 35% say AI is creating new entry-level roles, up from 21% in FY25.
Why it matters
For CHROs and TA leaders, this signals that campus hiring is no longer just about volume—it's a strategic, AI-driven, skills-first battleground. The 20-25% premium for AI and data skills means compensation models must evolve beyond degree and institute tier to include demonstrable skills. The rise of AI in hiring processes also demands that recruiters upskill in AI tools and data interpretation. With 50% of FY26 targets being women, diversity is now a hard metric. The report's data on PPO conversion and attrition suggests that investing in internships and behavioural assessments can improve retention, a key cost lever.
The Teksands point of view
This is a wake-up call for any employer still treating campus hiring as a manual, CV-sifting exercise. AI is now the default, and the data shows it's creating real premiums for AI skills. If you're not investing in AI-driven screening and skills-based assessments, you're already behind. The 20-25% premium for AI roles is a market signal—pay up or lose out. Also, the drop in infant attrition (18% to 15%) suggests that better matching via AI and internships pays off. Start there.
Got a tech role that's refusing to close?
Send us the JD. We'll tell you whether the problem is talent supply, compensation, location, process - or the JD itself.
