Saurabh Mukherjea Declares ‘Salaryman Era’ Over, Urges Indian Middle Class to Rethink Job Security
Saurabh Mukherjea, founder and CIO of Marcellus Investment Managers, made headlines on April 20, 2025, when he warned of a structural shift in India’s job economy. Speaking on a podcast episode, Mukherjea declared that the era of secure salaried jobs—particularly in middle management—is coming to an end, urging India’s middle class to pivot toward entrepreneurship. The statement has sparked widespread debate, especially among working professionals facing increasing uncertainties due to AI-driven automation, job consolidation, and changing corporate structures.
“The Salaryman Era Is Over”: Mukherjea’s Cautionary Take
Mukherjea observed that India’s job market is undergoing a fundamental reset:
- AI is replacing middle management, reducing the need for supervisory human roles.
- Tech firms like Google already use AI to write over one-third of code, a trend that’s extending to Indian IT, finance, and media sectors.
- The classic stable ‘salary job’ is fading, especially for those in roles that do not evolve or generate value beyond process management.
His message was clear: those still chasing “job security” through traditional routes are at risk of being left behind.
A New Call to Action for India’s Middle Class
Saurabh Mukherjea emphasized the need for mental and cultural reprogramming:
- “Our society is obsessed with salaries and designations,” he stated.
- Families must stop conditioning children to become job-seekers and instead encourage risk-taking and innovation.
- Entrepreneurship is no longer a luxury — it is becoming a survival strategy in a changing economy.
He advocated for a paradigm shift—one where the Indian middle class moves from employee mindsets to creator mindsets.
Role of the JAM Trinity in the Entrepreneurial Future
Mukherjea highlighted how the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) has laid the foundation for a new entrepreneurial revolution in India:
- Access to mobile internet has democratized market access and skills.
- Jan Dhan and UPI have simplified financial inclusion and online transactions.
- Aadhaar verification ensures digital trust, enabling small business legitimacy.
With these tools, he argued, there is no reason India’s middle class cannot scale in micro-entrepreneurship, from e-commerce to edtech, content, and financial advisory models.
What This Means for the Indian Workforce
- Middle managers and back-office employees are increasingly vulnerable to automation.
- Professionals must reskill in areas like AI, product management, sales, and digital branding.
- Risk-taking must become part of family and educational values, replacing old notions of “safe jobs.”
How to Take Action
- Reassess career paths to include startup or freelancing options.
- Invest in digital skills, coding, and communication.
- Study examples of successful micro-entrepreneurs across India.
- Start with small side hustles or low-cost ventures while building long-term vision.
Who Will Be Affected
- Fresh graduates from Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges, facing intense competition for shrinking corporate jobs.
- Mid-career professionals in tech, banking, media, and consulting.
- Middle-class families with fixed income dependence and rising cost-of-living pressure.
Saurabh Mukherjea’s Message Resonates in a Nation on the Brink of Work 2.0
The warning from Saurabh Mukherjea is not a pessimistic forecast — it’s a wake-up call. With India’s tech capabilities and financial infrastructure evolving rapidly, the country is poised to lead a grassroots entrepreneurial revolution. But for that to happen, the middle class must shed its fear of risk, redefine success, and take charge of its economic future.
