Archive · 17 Sep 2026
AI May Reshape Indian Jobs, Incomes and Retirement Planning
Saurabh Mukherjea says artificial intelligence may replace many repetitive office jobs.
This could make it harder for some graduates to find regular employment.
More people may work on short projects instead of having one permanent employer.
Websites such as Upwork already connect workers with projects around the world.
Gig workers might earn a lot in some years and much less in others.
This would make saving money more difficult.
Mukherjea says people should spend carefully and keep extra money for emergencies.
He also recommends health insurance and building savings for retirement.
He expects more workers may live in smaller cities and commute less often.
Saurabh Mukherjea says AI could automate many repetitive white-collar jobs within the next few years.
He expects more professionals to rely on short-term, project-based gig work instead of salaried employment.
Mukherjea said white-collar job creation has stagnated while India produces about 80 lakh graduates annually.
He warned that gig workers may experience unpredictable “feast and famine” income cycles.
He advised people to control living costs, build emergency savings, buy health insurance and create a pension corpus.
- Who
- Saurabh Mukherjea, founder and chief investment officer of Marcellus Investment Managers, made the assessment.
- What
- He said AI could reduce repetitive white-collar employment and expand project-based gig work, making personal finance more important.
- When
- Mukherjea spoke at Mint Extraclass on 10 September and discussed changes expected over the next few years and the coming decade.
- Where
- The discussion concerned India, including workers using global platforms such as Upwork and potentially moving to tier-two and tier-three cities.
- Why
- AI automation and stagnant white-collar job creation could make incomes less predictable and alter how people save, invest and prepare for retirement.
- Speaker
- Saurabh Mukherjea
- Organization
- Marcellus Investment Managers
- Graduate output
- India produces around 80 lakh graduates annually, according to Mukherjea.
- Estimated graduate quality
- Mukherjea estimated that about 40 lakh graduates are of decent quality.
- Income pattern
- Gig workers could face periods of high earnings followed by years of low earnings.
- Financial advice
- Keep living costs low, build an emergency savings buffer, buy substantial health insurance and build a pension corpus.
- Workplace shift
- Mukherjea expects more people to work from tier-two and tier-three cities and commute less often.