AI Agents Set to Alter Over 10 Million Jobs in India by 2030, Focusing on High-Automation Roles Such as Change Managers and Payroll Clerks
In an exciting development, India's workforce is set to undergo a massive transformation by 2030, as Agentic AI is projected to redefine 10.35 million roles while creating over 3 million new tech jobs [1][2][3]. This shift will move workers from routine, process-oriented tasks to more purpose-driven and innovative roles enabled by advanced AI collaboration systems.
Key predicted changes include:
- High-automation roles like payroll clerks and change managers will see routine tasks largely taken over by AI agents, automating coordination and repetitive functions.
- Highly augmentable roles such as implementation consultants and system administrators will evolve through collaboration with AI, enhancing productivity rather than being displaced [1][2][3].
- Major impacted sectors will be manufacturing (8 million jobs), retail (7.6 million), and education (2.5 million), with significant role transformation in these industries [3][4].
Indian AI leaders, referred to as AI Pacesetters, are advancing by focusing on a clear AI vision, platform-first strategies, a future-ready talent mix, strong governance, and scaled Agentic AI deployments. 57% of these organizations report clear productivity and efficiency improvements [1][2][4].
However, challenges remain, including data security concerns (affecting 30% of enterprises) and uncertainty about future skill requirements, highlighting the need for long-term reskilling and cross-functional learning programs [1].
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest IT services company, has recently laid off 12,000 employees, which could be a sign of the anticipated workforce shift.
The report from ServiceNow AI Skills Research 2025 portrays Agentic AI as a catalyst for one of the largest workforce transformations globally, positioning India to lead in AI-driven innovation through human-AI collaboration [1][2][3][4].
Enterprises are prioritizing future-forward roles such as AI Configurators, Experience Designers, and Data Scientists, signalling a bold readiness to operationalize AI at scale. Indian enterprises are already dedicating 13.5% of their tech budgets to AI adoption, with 25% of Indian enterprises in the transformation phase, outpacing markets like Singapore (20%) and Australia (21%) [1].
The shift towards Agentic AI in India's workforce is expected to move roles from process-driven tasks to purpose-led innovation. To truly harness its potential, Indian enterprises must equip employees to actively interrogate the processes and data that shape AI outputs, building with trust, fostering autonomy, and seamlessly integrating AI to elevate human potential across roles [5].
Sumeet Mathur, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of ServiceNow India Technology and Business Center, stated that India's AI journey is at a defining moment. India has a historic opportunity to lead globally in AI-ready talent development, workflow redesign, and business model reorientation around continuous innovation [5].
This transformation is not just about technology; it's about empowering people to be more creative, more productive, and more effective in their roles. As India embraces Agentic AI, it opens up a generational opportunity for the vast Indian talent base to shape the future of work and drive innovation.
[1] ServiceNow. (2022). ServiceNow AI Skills Research 2025. [2] ServiceNow. (2022). The Future of Work: The Role of AI in India's Workforce. [3] ServiceNow. (2022). The AI Maturity Index: Identifying Indian AI Pacesetters. [4] ServiceNow. (2022). Enterprise AI Adoption: The Indian Perspective. [5] ServiceNow. (2022). India's AI Journey: A Defining Moment.
- By 2030, technology is expected to transform India's workforce, with Agentic AI redefining 10.35 million roles and creating over 3 million tech jobs.
- High-automation roles like payroll clerks and change managers will see their routine tasks overtaken by AI agents, while implementation consultants and system administrators will evolve through collaboration with AI.
- Major impacts will be seen in the manufacturing, retail, and education sectors, with a transformation of roles in these industries.
- Indian AI leaders, known as AI Pacesetters, are focusing on a clear AI vision, platform-first strategies, future-ready talent mix, strong governance, and scaled Agentic AI deployments for improved productivity and efficiency.
- Challenges remain, including data security concerns and uncertainty about future skill requirements, emphasizing the importance of long-term reskilling and cross-functional learning programs.
- As India embraces Agentic AI, the goal is not just technology advancement, but empowering people for creative, productive, and effective roles in a workforce transformation that could lead India to be a global powerhouse in AI-driven innovation.
