White-collar hiring picks up pace as core sectors drive recovery

Stable hiring trends mark a 4% year-on-year rise, with non-IT sectors leading the demand for mid-level and fresher talent

February 3, 2025

Naukri’s JobSpeak Index for January 2025 recorded a 4% year-on-year hiring growth at 2,550 points

Core sectors such as FMCG (+16%), Insurance (+15%), and Pharma (+11%) drove the demand, while IT hiring dipped by 1%

Jaipur led technology job growth with a 38% surge, followed by Jodhpur (+35%) and Udaipur (+32%), signalling emerging tech hubs

Aviation and Aerospace hiring soared 33%, with Delhi NCR leading at 77%, while mid-level positions saw a 22% growth

India’s white-collar job market began 2025 on a positive note, recording a 4% year-on-year increase in hiring, according to Naukri’s JobSpeak Index. The index stood at 2,550 points, signalling stable hiring trends despite subdued IT demand, which declined by 1%. Traditional sectors such as FMCG (+16%), Insurance (+15%), and Pharma (+11%) spearheaded the recovery.

Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer at Naukri, highlighted the positive contrast with January 2024’s 11% hiring slump, attributing the current growth to the resilience of non-IT sectors. The aviation and aerospace sector saw a remarkable 33% surge, led by Delhi NCR (+77%). Mid-level positions dominated hiring trends, with demand for professionals with 4-7 years of experience rising by 22%.

Emerging tech hubs are gaining prominence, with Jaipur recording a 38% increase in technology jobs. The hiring momentum extended across Rajasthan, with Jodhpur (+35%) and Udaipur (+32%) posting strong growth. Retail, which had faced negative growth, finally saw a 1% revival, supported by hiring in Bangalore (+7%) and Delhi NCR (+4%) for mid-level management roles.

The Media and entertainment sector registered a 14% increase, fuelled by Mumbai’s 4% growth. Balanced hiring across experience levels indicated sustained demand, with freshers (+16%), mid-level professionals (+15%), and senior talent (+17%) all seeing growth. Fresher hiring grew by 3%, led by non-IT industries like Beauty and wellness (+21%), KPO/Research/Analytics (+26%), and Hospitality (+18%).

Unicorn companies played a pivotal role in job creation, recording a 25% surge in hiring. Hyderabad (+74%) and Chennai (+60%) emerged as major hubs, with banking and financial services unicorns posting 35% growth. IT and e-commerce unicorns saw hiring increases of 16% and 18%, respectively. Advertising & Marketing maintained steady growth at 4%, with Chennai (+24%) and Pune (+18%) emerging as new talent centres.

The geographical diversification of hiring patterns signals a shift beyond traditional metros, underscoring a broader and more inclusive employment landscape for white-collar professionals in 2025.

Source: Economic Times

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