Nearly seven in 10 Indian professionals plan to look for a new job in 2027, according to fresh findings from job platform foundit’s Career Reset Survey 2027, reported on Friday. The survey, based on responses from 9,951 professionals across India, paints a picture of a workforce that is confident, ambitious and increasingly unwilling to wait for growth to come to them.
The headline number is striking. As many as 68.4% of respondents said they intend to actively look for a new job in the coming year. Another 18.1% plan to stay in their current roles but remain open to opportunities. Only 3.7% said they intend to stay and grow within their existing organisations. In other words, the overwhelming majority of India’s white-collar workforce is either moving or ready to move.
What is driving the restlessness is not only money. Career growth emerged as the single biggest reason to switch, cited by 40.3% of professionals. Higher salary came second at 29.7%, followed by better work-life balance and flexibility at 20.3%. Yet when it comes to actually accepting an offer, pay still sets the terms. More than half of those surveyed, 51.5%, said they would only consider a switch for a salary hike of at least 31%.
Growth first, but pay sets the price
The survey captures a careful balancing act. Professionals want a bigger role, a better title and a steeper learning curve, but they are not willing to trade down on pay to get there. Tarun Sinha, CEO of foundit, said career growth is taking precedence over immediate financial gains, even as salary expectations remain high.
The numbers behind the pay expectations are specific. Nearly a third of respondents, 31.2%, said a hike of 31% to 50% would make a switch worthwhile, while 20.4% expect an increase of more than 50%. That means one in five professionals will only move for a jump of over half their current pay. At the other end, 29.4% would switch for a hike of 20% to 30%, and only 6.2% would move for less than 20%.
Confidence is running high alongside these expectations. As many as 94.1% of professionals said they are confident of finding a good job if they need one, a sign that the job market, at least in the minds of those surveyed, still rewards the bold.
AI is seen as an opportunity, not a threat
One of the more reassuring findings concerns artificial intelligence. Far from fearing it, 82.1% of respondents said they see AI as a career opportunity rather than a threat. And 67% said they are actively upskilling to prepare for AI-led changes in their work.
That attitude matters because AI is already reshaping hiring. Employers are asking for AI fluency in roles that had nothing to do with technology a few years ago, from marketing and sales to finance and customer support. Professionals who are building those skills now are, in effect, pricing themselves into the next round of jobs before the market fully demands it.
The hiring process itself is the sore point
If the survey has a warning for employers, it is here. Despite their confidence, professionals are deeply frustrated with how hiring actually works. More than half, 52.7%, said their biggest frustration is applying for jobs and never hearing back. Lengthy hiring processes came next at 19.1%, followed by fake or irrelevant job listings at 11.6%. Another 9% pointed to automated or AI-led rejections that arrive with no feedback at all.
Taken together, 80.8% of respondents identified issues with the recruitment process as their biggest frustration. For companies planning to hire in 2027, the message is blunt. The talent is out there and willing to move, but a slow, silent hiring process is enough to lose it.
What this means if you are planning a move
For professionals weighing a switch in 2027, the survey offers a few practical cues:
- Lead with growth, not just pay. Recruiters are hearing the same story, so a clear case for the next role, skills and responsibility carries weight in interviews.
- Know your number. With half the market expecting 31% or more, going in without a clear salary expectation weakens your negotiating position.
- Build AI skills now. Two in three professionals are already upskilling, so standing still is falling behind.
- Do not wait for a reply that may never come. With more than half of applicants reporting silence from employers, following up and applying widely matters as much as the application itself.
The coming year looks set to be a busy one for India’s job market. Employers will be competing for people who know what they want, and professionals will be testing whether the market is willing to pay for it. On the evidence of this survey, both sides should be ready for a long conversation.
FAQs
How many Indian professionals plan to switch jobs in 2027?
According to foundit’s Career Reset Survey 2027, 68.4% of the 9,951 professionals surveyed plan to actively look for a new job in 2027.
What is the biggest reason professionals want to change jobs?
Career growth, cited by 40.3% of respondents, ahead of higher salary at 29.7% and better work-life balance at 20.3%.
How much of a salary hike do job seekers expect?
More than half, 51.5%, expect a hike of at least 31% to make a switch worthwhile. Of these, 31.2% expect 31% to 50% and 20.4% expect more than 50%.
Do Indian professionals see AI as a threat to their careers?
No. As many as 82.1% see AI as a career opportunity, and 67% are actively upskilling to prepare for AI-led changes at work.
What frustrates job seekers most about hiring?
Applying for jobs and never hearing back, cited by 52.7% of respondents. Overall, 80.8% pointed to problems with the recruitment process itself.
The findings are from foundit’s Career Reset Survey 2027, based on responses from 9,951 professionals across India.
