India could soon be LinkedIn’s largest market, country head says

LinkedIn could see India become its largest market within the next two to three years, according to its India country manager Kumaresh Pattabiraman.

India is currently the platform’s second-largest and fastest-growing market, with more than 160 million users.

Pattabiraman linked the company’s growth to India’s young, digital-first workforce and the popularity of upskilling among Indian professionals.

He said LinkedIn membership in India has risen by over 50% in the past two years, and revenue has more than doubled since 2020.

The company is adding features such as video uploads and AI-powered job search, as well as options for job seekers to list notice periods and expected salaries.

🔗 Source: YourStory

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Global tech platforms increasingly view India as a strategic innovation hub beyond just a large market

LinkedIn’s India strategy exemplifies this shift, with the company establishing its largest R&D center outside the US in Bengaluru, where teams contribute to every major business line including talent solutions, learning, and AI development1.
The platform’s Indian user base of 160 million has grown over 50% in the past two years, while revenue more than doubled since 2020, demonstrating the market’s commercial viability1.
LinkedIn’s country manager describes India as a “signpost for the global future of work,” indicating that solutions developed for India’s unique challenges—such as notice periods and expected salary features—are being designed to benefit LinkedIn’s global user base1.
This “build in India, for the world” approach reflects a broader trend where global platforms leverage India’s digital-first workforce and engineering talent to create solutions with global applicability.

AI adoption in India reveals a complex job market transformation with simultaneous creation and displacement

While 72% of Indian employers plan new hiring in the second half of 2025, with AI viewed as a catalyst rather than a threat, the technology has already displaced over 10,000 jobs across various sectors in 20252 3.
The IT sector expects a 15% increase in hiring driven by AI-related roles, particularly in data science and cybersecurity, yet concerns about routine job displacement persist2.
This dual impact is reflected in employer sentiment, with 85% anticipating AI-driven job opportunities over the next 1-5 years, even as Karnataka state works with companies to assess workforce impact from AI implementation4 3.
The transformation demands significant reskilling, with projections showing a 65% change in demanded skills by 2030, highlighting the critical need for workforce adaptation strategies4.