Is This the End of the Salaried Middle Class? Market Expert Predicts Dramatic Shift in Indian Economy

Saurabh Mukherjea warns that AI and automation will soon replace mid-level salaried roles, urging Indians to embrace entrepreneurship for future stability.

April 21, 2025: The traditional Indian dream of a secure, salaried job may be nearing its end. In a thought-provoking outlook on India’s economic future, market expert Saurabh Mukherjea, founder of Marcellus Investment Managers, has claimed that “salaried employment as a worthwhile avenue” is undergoing a gradual demise, especially for the educated and ambitious middle class.

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Speaking on a podcast titled Beyond the Paycheck: India’s Entrepreneurial Rebirth, Mukherjea said, “The job construct that built India’s middle class is no longer sustainable. Much of what was supposed to be done by white-collar workers is now being done by AI.”

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🔍 Key Highlights from Mukherjea’s Prediction:

• AI Replacing Humans: Mukherjea cited that a third of Google’s code is now written by AI, and similar disruptions are expected in Indian IT, media, and finance sectors.
• Mid-Level Crisis: Career paths for mid-level professionals are facing an existential threat due to automation.
• Cultural Shift Required: He called for a shift in Indian societal values, stating, “We define success by paychecks. That has to change.”

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🚀 Entrepreneurship as the New Engine of Growth

Despite the gloomy forecast for salaried jobs, Mukherjea remains optimistic about India’s entrepreneurial landscape. He believes that the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan + Aadhaar + Mobile) has laid the foundation for a massive entrepreneurial boom.

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“If applied with the same intellect and grit we brought to corporate careers, entrepreneurship can be the new engine of prosperity,” he remarked.

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🧠 The Call to Action for Families

Mukherjea urged Indian families to stop conditioning children to be job-seekers, stating bluntly:

“The jobs won’t be there.”

Instead, he suggests that the focus should shift to impact and happiness, not just monthly income. This shift in mindset, according to him, is critical to adapting to the evolving job landscape.

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Tags: India Economy, Saurabh Mukherjea, AI in India, Future of Work, Indian Middle Class, Automation, Entrepreneurship, JAM Trinity, Indian Jobs Crisis, White Collar Disruption