India’s white-collar job market kicked off 2025 on a positive note, recording a 4% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in hiring, according to Naukri’s JobSpeak Index. This growth was largely driven by FMCG, Insurance and Pharma, which helped offset sluggish hiring in IT.
The emergence of new job hubs, a rebound in retail hiring, and strong demand for mid-level professionals signal a dynamic shift in the employment landscape.Hiring remained strong in FMCG (+16%), Insurance (+15%) and Pharma (+11%), boosting the overall index to 2,550 points, according to the report.
The index stood at 2,550 points, reflecting stable hiring trends despite continued sluggishness in IT, which saw a 1% dip.The Naukri JobSpeak Index is a monthly benchmark that tracks hiring activity based on new job postings and recruiter searches on Naukri.com’s resume database.
Budget 2025: Up to Rs 500 crore turnover enterprises to be brought under MSME definition
Soaring profits, lagging wages: CEA Nageswaran on corporates in Economic Survey
The job question
78 million new jobs to fasting growing jobs in next five years – What latest WEF report says about future work market?
“In 2024, January greeted us with a disappointing 11% decline in hiring. In contrast, 2025 seems to have started on a positive note,” said Pawan Goyal, chief business officer, Naukri.While IT hiring remained muted overall, Jaipur defied the trend with a 38% surge in technology jobs, highlighting its rise as an emerging tech hub.
This hiring momentum extended across Rajasthan, with Jodhpur (+35%) and Udaipur (+32%) also witnessing strong job growth.After months of negative growth, the retail sector finally saw a turnaround, posting a 1% y-o-y increase. Bangalore and Delhi-NCR led this recovery, registering 7% and 4% growth, respectively, fuelled by demand for mid-level management roles.
“The 4% hiring growth is tempered as IT recovery settles in; however, strong gains in core sectors like FMCG, Pharma, Insurance, and Hospitality are a good sign and augur well for a strong 2025 in white-collar hiring,” Goyal said.The aviation & aerospace sector recorded one of the highest hiring surges, growing 33% y-o-y with Delhi-NCR leading at 77%.
Demand was concentrated in mid-level positions, with hiring for professionals with 4-7 years of experience up 22%.The media & entertainment industry witnessed a 14% rise in hiring, with Mumbai driving growth (+4%). The hiring trend remained balanced across experience levels, with 16% growth in fresher hiring, 15% increase for professionals with 4-7 years of experience, and 17% rise for those in the 8-12 year segment.
Entry-level hiring saw a modest 3% growth, largely driven by non-IT industries. The biggest demand came from KPO/research/analytics sector (+26%), beauty & wellness sector (+21%), and hospitality (+18%).Startups and unicorns continued their hiring spree, recording a 25% jump in recruitment.
Hyderabad led the way with a staggering 74% growth, followed by Chennai at 60%. Sector-wise banking & financial Services unicorns witnessed 35% growth in hiring, IT unicorns expanded hiring by 16% and internet & e-commerce unicorns saw an 18% increase.
The advertising & marketing industry maintained its 4% growth trajectory, with Chennai (+24%) and Pune (+18%) emerging as new hubs for marketing talent. This geographical diversification signals a shift beyond traditional metro hiring patterns.
