July 17, 2025
Sectors such as retail, e-commerce, BFSI, logistics, hospitality, travel, and FMCG are driving the seasonal hiring momentum
Tier II cities like Mysuru, Jaipur, and Varanasi are seeing a 42% surge in hiring demand, signalling broader regional participation
Metro cities continue to lead, with 19% more seasonal job opportunities compared to 2024
Compensation is expected to rise by 12–15% in metros and by 18–22% in emerging hubs
India’s festive season is set to generate more than 2.16 lakh seasonal jobs in the second half of 2025, according to a report by workforce solutions firm Adecco India. This represents a 15–20% year-on-year increase in temporary and gig employment opportunities.
The boost in hiring is being fuelled by sectors such as retail, e-commerce, BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), logistics, hospitality, travel, and FMCG. The demand is timed with the upcoming festival calendar, including Raksha Bandhan, Dussehra, Diwali, end-of-season sales, and the traditional wedding season.
With the festive period expected to be stronger than usual, many firms are frontloading their hiring cycles to remain operationally ready. According to Adecco India, this year’s surge is supported by improved consumer sentiment, a favourable monsoon strengthening rural demand, post-election optimism, and aggressive seasonal campaigns.
Based on data from Adecco India’s client base, industry sources, and active job postings, the report highlights a more structured approach to festive hiring in 2025.
Experts observed that this year’s demand is notably sharper and more planned than in previous years. Employers are no longer focused solely on hiring volume; instead, they are placing equal emphasis on rapid deployment, workforce preparedness, and regional responsiveness.
Metro cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune remain dominant in terms of job volume, with a 19% increase over last year. Meanwhile, Tier II cities, including Lucknow, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru, and Varanasi, are experiencing a 42% jump in hiring demand. Emerging hubs, such as Kanpur, Kochi, and Vijayawada, are also gaining traction, indicating a wider geographic spread in festive employment activity.
Compensation is expected to rise in tandem with demand. Salaries in metro cities are projected to increase by 12–15%, while emerging cities could see hikes ranging from 18–22%, according to the report.
There has also been a notable increase in women’s participation in seasonal hiring, with a 23% year-over-year rise. This shift is driven by a growing preference for flexible, short-term employment that offers greater autonomy and a better work-life balance.
Logistics and delivery roles are projected to increase by 30–35% as companies expand their last-mile operations to meet the demands of the festive season. The BFSI sector is also ramping up field deployments, particularly for credit card sales and POS installations in Tier II and III markets, with overall demand in the industry expected to grow by 30%.
Hospitality and travel are predicted to see a 20–25% increase in hiring, while e-commerce and retail continue to dominate festive employment, accounting for 35–40% of all seasonal roles.
The report notes that employers are increasingly prioritising multilingual skills, customer service abilities, and digital fluency—especially for roles in store sales, delivery, and financial promotions.
As Gupta explained, seasonal hiring has evolved into a strategic layer of workforce planning, particularly for digital commerce, retail, and BFSI. The shift now is towards structured mobilisation, enhanced candidate experiences, and long-term integration into the workforce.
Source: New Indian Express