TLDR: A recent report indicates that artificial intelligence and other new-age technologies are projected to impact 1.8 crore jobs in India by 2030, with the manufacturing, retail, and education sectors facing the most significant disruption. While some roles are at high risk of automation, AI is also expected to create new job opportunities.
New-age technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), are poised to bring about a ‘seismic’ shift in various industries, potentially affecting the employment of over 1.8 crore individuals across three primary sectors by the year 2030, according to a report citing Servicenow data. The sectors most likely to be impacted are Manufacturing, Retail, and Education.
The Manufacturing sector is anticipated to experience the most substantial impact from this AI transition, with an estimated 80 lakh workers facing job changes. The Retail sector follows closely with 76 lakh jobs expected to be affected, while the Education sector could see 25 lakh jobs impacted within the next five years.
The report highlights that ‘high-automation’ roles, such as Change Managers and Payroll Clerks, are particularly susceptible to being redefined as AI agents take over routine coordination tasks. Conversely, ‘high-augmentation’ job roles, including Implementation Consultants and System Administrators, are expected to evolve into partnerships with AI rather than competing against it.
This development comes amidst broader concerns about AI’s impact on the job market. For instance, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT company, announced in late July 2025 that it would be laying off approximately 2% of its workforce, or over 12,000 employees, in the financial year 2025-26. These job cuts are primarily focused on middle and senior management as part of TCS’s strategy to become ‘future-ready’ and increase investments in technology and AI development. As of the April-June quarter of FY 2025-26, TCS’s total workforce stood at 6,13,069 people.
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Despite the potential for job displacement, there is also an optimistic outlook regarding AI’s role in job creation. Sumeet Mathur, Managing Director for Servicenow India Technology and Business Centre, stated that artificial intelligence is projected to create 30 lakh new technology jobs by 2030. He further noted that AI will ‘redefine’ over 1.35 crore existing roles, emphasizing India’s significant opportunity to lead globally by fostering AI-ready talent, redesigning workflows, and adapting business models through continuous innovation. A survey conducted by Servicenow involving over 500 industry leaders revealed that 13.5% of tech budgets are already allocated to AI adoption, with a quarter of Indian enterprises currently in the transformation phase. Data security remains a top concern for 30% of Indian enterprises, while 26% are still uncertain about future skill requirements.
