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Economic Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Pharma industry to outdo India Inc in 2025 pay hike: Study
Agencies Pharma industry to outdo India Inc in 2025 pay hike: Study New Delhi: Employees in pharma companies are likely to get an increment of 9.6% in 2025, a tad lower than last year but still exceeding the average pay hike of 8.8% projected for corporate India, according to a Deloitte roles like regen medicine researcher (who investigates ways to repair or replace damaged tissues and organs), pharmacovigilance specialist (who ensures the safety of medications and vaccines), real-world evidence scientist (an expert on data analysis and research methods), digital health programme officer and clinical artificial intelligence analysts are likely to get even higher increments, said experts. 'This year's pay hike has been more progressive compared to the previous cycle' for Mankind Pharma, said Prateek Dubey, global chief HR officer at the maker of Asthakind expectorant and Bandy anti-worm chewable tablet. 'This year, stronger business performance and strategic clarity has enabled us to be more generous and differentiated in our approach,' he told pharma industry has had a stable outlook in terms of increments and promotions over the last five years, with average hikes ranging between 9.3% and 9.8%, Deloitte India partner Neelesh Gupta said. The average pay hikes in India Inc in general, meanwhile, has been consistently declining since projected average 2025 increment is 20 basis points (0.2 percentage point) lower than the average for last year. But when it comes to key talent, employees are attracting retention measures that include 1.5 to 1.8 times increments, retention bonus up to 20% of the fixed pay and fast-track careers, Gupta said. The Deloitte study attributes the pharma sector's higher pay hikes compared with India Inc to sustained strong growth outlook over the years and also the emergence of biotech as a hyper growth engine within life hot and new roles within pharma are commanding a pay premium of 10-20% in the market, according to the Pharma has identified critical talent pools that include roles in R&D, regulatory affairs, digital transformation, manufacturing excellence and product management, said pay hike this year for Kilitch Drugs is at par with last year's levels, said whole-time director Bhavin Mukund Mehta, who is also vice-chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India. Kilitch Drugs is giving an around a 9% hike for 2025.'The pharma sector has been offering better hikes than many other sectors due to a combination of strong business performance, high talent demand and the inherent resilience of the industry,' said top performers, the pay hike this year has ranged between 10% and 20%, he added. At Alembic Pharmaceuticals, the hikes this year are ranging between 6% and 10, said CHRO Namita Patwari.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Impact of AI on entry-level campus jobs: How the roles of engineers are being redefined
As the landscape evolves, specific skills in AI are becoming increasingly valuable, commanding higher premiums. (AI image) By Dr Neelesh Gupta and Dhruv Dudeja Per our Campus Workforce Trends Study 2025, entry-level management roles post-MBA typically pay 1.5 times more than entry-level technical roles. However, for graduates from the top 10 and tier-1 institutions, this salary gap has consistently narrowed over the past five years, decreasing from 2x to 1.5x and from 1.8x to 1.4x, respectively. Despite this trend, the technology talent landscape faces a growing replacement threat, as AI and GenAI increasingly take over tasks once performed by human talent. The AI tsunami: Threat or transformation? Ongoing discussions highlight that leaders increasingly view entry-level roles in technology (such as coding), content creation, customer support, technical helpdesk and translation and localisation as tasks that AI or GenAI can perform more quickly and accurately. The real-world implications of this perception remain uncertain; it may signal either a replacement of human roles or a simple augmentation of workforce capabilities. Conversely, the demand for on-site staff to maintain AI data centres or associated facilities may give rise to new job categories, ranging from basic to complex. The fear factor: Automation anxiety a catalyst for career realignment As the debate continues, it is clear that GenAI is rapidly becoming part of everyday work. According to Deloitte's Campus Workforce Trends: Placement Cycle 2025 study, 69 percent of engineering students believe their jobs are at risk due to AI. This apprehension reshapes their learning preferences and redefines their career entry strategies and long-term trajectories. Roles once considered stable and future-proof, such as QA testing, data processing, level 1 support and documentation, are now being swiftly automated. Technologies such as chatbots, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) engines and auto-coding assistants perform these tasks with remarkable speed and efficiency. This results in twofold problems for entry-level talent: (a) fear of job loss and (b) missing out on formative critical experiences that define and shape one's career trajectory. As automation continues to take over routine tasks, the nature of human-led functions in the workplace is undergoing a significant shift. This change is evident in entry-level campus jobs, where individuals typically begin as 'makers', those who produce content, write code and deliver outcomes as individual contributors. Traditionally, their work is overseen by slightly more experienced professionals or first-line managers, known as 'checkers', who review and validate what the makers produce. However, this maker-checker model is evolving in two key ways: • Checkers hold tightly to their roles, often viewing makers as increasingly replaceable due to automation. • Makers increasingly take on checker responsibilities, diminishing the traditional work hierarchy. As a result, organisations grapple with either an inflated middle management layer or redundant managerial roles, with each organisation's situation telling its unique story. Reimagining careers: The emergence of the hybrid engineer-manager Instead of shunning technical learning, students increasingly gravitate towards hybrid roles integrating technical expertise with business acumen and leadership capabilities. This evolution is reflected in current skilling trends. While many continue to focus on AI and Data Science, they are increasingly pairing these subjects with leadership, project management and strategic thinking courses. This shift creates new opportunities in emerging roles, such as prompt engineers, AI support engineers, data annotation specialists, cybersecurity analysts and AI ethics assistants, which require a blend of critical thinking, domain expertise and ethical reasoning. As the landscape evolves, specific skills in AI are becoming increasingly valuable, commanding higher premiums. Notable in-demand skills include: AI development and prompt engineering: About 15–20 percent premium ML engineering: Approximately 15–20 percent premium Cloud AI and infrastructure: Nearly 5–10 percent premium Real-time and specialised data analytics: About 10–15 percent premium These high-demand skills are compelling entry-level professionals to pivot towards them for better compensation and career prospects. Our report shows that 83 percent of engineering students are now pursuing training in leadership and management. This marks a significant shift, as these were once considered separate career paths. This trend is driven not only by apprehension but also by ambition. Management positions are perceived as gateways to faster career advancement, broader strategic influence and higher compensation. Organisations are embracing AI in their campus hiring and cadre management processes As student aspirations shift, campus recruiters are adjusting their strategies accordingly. Companies are increasingly using AI in their recruitment processes, with clear evidence apparent at three levels: Smart resume parsing Automated screening Skill-based matching Organisations are also revamping their hiring models to attract tech-plus-business talent. Fast-track management programmes, rotational leadership roles and digital transformation fellowships are gaining popularity. Recruiters now prioritise applied skills, hands-on project experience and cross-functional adaptability over traditional academic metrics. Preparing for an AI-augmented workforce The mantra 'AI for all and all for AI' is becoming essential for students and organisations. Its adoption spans various levels: Academic institutions: Approximately 20 percent of institutions are integrating AI into their curricula and administrative processes, using tools for personalised learning and automated admissions. For example, MIT employs AI for real-time feedback, enhancing student engagement. Individual students: Students use AI-powered platforms for personalised tutoring and writing assistance, enhancing academic outcomes. Notably, about 83 percent of tier-1 students now use AI-generated mock interviews, job-specific simulations and automated profile audits. Organisations: Companies are adopting AI to optimise operations by employing data analytics for customer insights and using AI tools in HR to enhance recruitment while personalising employee training. This adoption showcases AI's transformative impact on decision-making across various sectors. Conclusion: Redefining the role of engineers India Inc.'s graduating class of 2025, along with those of the coming years, will continue to experience the impact of AI-driven disruption. The surge in AI solutions and their ability to deliver precise results will shape the future paths of engineers, prompting many to reskill or shift towards management roles. At the same time, India Inc. stands at a pivotal juncture where jobs are being redefined. As roles evolve, campus curricula will adapt and the mindset of future generations will shift accordingly. This transformation necessitates a re-evaluation of traditional talent models. Employers and educators must invest in developing multidimensional capabilities that bridge the divide between code and commerce. In the GenAI era, success hinges less on static knowledge and more on the ability to adapt and grow with emerging technologies. Engineering students are already responding to this shift by actively seeking out cross-disciplinary skills, blending technical expertise with leadership, strategy and innovation. Engineering students are already demonstrating a deep understanding of this imperative. (Dr Neelesh Gupta is Partner, Deloitte India and Dhruv Dudeja is Director, Deloitte India) Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
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Business Standard
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
India's auto firms to give double-digit salary hikes in FY26: Deloitte
The automotive industry is projected to offer an average salary hike of 10.1 per cent for the financial year 2025–26 (FY26), The Economic Times reported, citing Deloitte's 'Performance and Rewards Trends Study' for automotive producers. This projection is notably higher than the average 8 per cent salary growth seen across other Indian sectors. Some firms concluded their appraisals for FY26 in March 2025, while others are expected to finalise them after June, depending on their financial year-end. EVs, automation, AI roles driving demand for skilled talent Human resource heads at Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) and Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd attributed the double-digit hikes to increased demand for roles in electric vehicles, research and development, product engineering, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning. Top-performing employees are likely to receive raises exceeding the 10 per cent mark, according to the report. Double-digit raises continue for fifth straight year Neelesh Gupta, partner at Deloitte India, noted that FY26 would mark the fifth consecutive year of double-digit pay hikes for the automotive sector. However, he added that the rate of increase has been gradually declining over the past three years. Compared to last year's 10.5 per cent hike, this year's projected 10.1 per cent still places the automotive sector ahead of India Inc's overall average of 8.8 per cent for FY25. Automobile exports up 19% in FY25 India's automobile exports rose by 19 per cent to over 5.3 million units in FY25, compared to 4.5 million in FY24. Passenger vehicle exports rose by 15 per cent to 770,364 units in FY25, up from 672,105 the previous year, according to industry body SIAM. The segment delivered its best-ever annual performance, driven by global demand for India-manufactured models. IT sector braces for modest salary hikes In contrast, India's IT services sector is likely to witness more modest salary hikes, amid global economic uncertainties and a shift in skill requirements. Average pay increases are projected to range between 4 and 8.5 per cent—lower than in previous years—indicating a move towards more sustainable compensation structures in the face of growing AI adoption and cost optimisation.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Auto sector shifts into high hear with 10.1% salary hikes in FY25
The automotive industry continues its lead over other sectors in terms of pay hikes, offering double-digit increments, outperforming average single-digit raises for most of India Inc. Automotive companies will likely issue a 10.1per cent salary hike for FY25 compared to an average more than 8per cent for other Indian corporates, according to Deloitte's 'Performance and Rewards Trends Study' for automotive producers, shared exclusively with ET. Some companies have completed the appraisal process for FY25 in March this year while others are in the process of doing so as their financial year ends in June or even later. Double-digit salary increases are mostly driven by a high in-demand talent pool across job functions like electric vehicles, R&D, product, digitalisation, automation, AI, and ML, said HR heads at Sonalika Group, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), and Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd. Top performers are likely to get double-digit or higher pay hikes this year, they said. For the fifth straight year, auto firms will see a double-digit salary increment though the percentage increase will decline for the third year in a row, said Neelesh Gupta, partner at Deloitte India. Last year, the automotive sector issued a 10.5per cent pay hike. "Despite the drop, automotive producers continue to outpace the India Inc salary increment number which averages at 8.8per cent for FY25," said Gupta. Salary increase expectations for this year is expected to be in the range of 9.5-10.0per cent, in line with overall auto industry expectations, said Amit Sharma, corporate HR head, Sonalika Group.
Economic Times
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Auto sector shifts into high hear with 10.1% salary hikes in FY25
The automotive sector is set to lead salary hikes in FY25, offering an average increase of 10.1%, ahead of the 8.8% average across India Inc, according to Deloitte's latest study. The hikes are driven by demand for talent in areas like EVs, R&D, automation, AI, and ML. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The automotive industry continues its lead over other sectors in terms of pay hikes, offering double-digit increments, outperforming average single-digit raises for most of India companies will likely issue a 10.1% salary hike for FY25 compared to an average more than 8% for other Indian corporates, according to Deloitte's 'Performance and Rewards Trends Study' for automotive producers, shared exclusively with ET. Some companies have completed the appraisal process for FY25 in March this year while others are in the process of doing so as their financial year ends in June or even salary increases are mostly driven by a high in-demand talent pool across job functions like electric vehicles, R&D, product, digitalisation, automation, AI, and ML, said HR heads at Sonalika Group, Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), and Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd. Top performers are likely to get double-digit or higher pay hikes this year, they said. For the fifth straight year, auto firms will see a double-digit salary increment though the percentage increase will decline for the third year in a row, said Neelesh Gupta, partner at Deloitte year, the automotive sector issued a 10.5% pay hike. "Despite the drop, automotive producers continue to outpace the India Inc salary increment number which averages at 8.8% for FY25," said increase expectations for this year is expected to be in the range of 9.5-10.0%, in line with overall auto industry expectations, said Amit Sharma, corporate HR head, Sonalika Group.
