Stability over short-term: Jobseekers rethink festive season hiring, finds Indeed Hiring Tracker

~Employers report a hiring surge~

Bengaluru, 26 September 2025: Indeed’s latest Hiring Tracker finds that two in three job
seekers are looking for full-time roles, seeing festive jobs as stepping stones to something
bigger. But on the other side, more than half of employers (53%) say three out of four
festive hires are temporary which is up by 7% from the last year, with another 16%
saying all their festive hiring is on short-term contracts.

“Festivals in India have always brought jobs along with celebrations. But today’s workers
are thinking differently – they want stability and a future, not just quick income,” said
Sashi Kumar, Managing Director, Indeed India. “This gap between what workers want
and what employers are offering is where the real change needs to happen. Our role is to
make these opportunities visible and accessible, so people can find not just a job, but the
right path for them.”

The latest Indeed Hiring Tracker spanning the months of April 2025 to September 2025,
reveals that 75% of employers’ workforce is temporary during the season.
What workers are asking for
When asked about priorities, job seekers made their stance clear:
● 69% want financial stability and steady pay.
● 61% say job security matters most.
● 37% want long-term benefits like provident funds.
● Only 7% cared about festive bonuses, and 5% about paid leave.
It’s a sharp shift from the old idea of festive jobs as “extra income” gigs. Many workers are
now hoping these roles can open doors to longer-term careers, and they’re leaving if they
don’t see that promise. That’s why sectors like retail, hospitality, and travel, while driving
the demand for festive hires, are also facing higher no-shows and quicker exits this year.
What employers are looking for
Even though the contracts are short-term, employers are seeking long-term skills. Nearly
half of them said technical or domain know-how is hardest to find. They also want:

● 41% leadership and managerial skills.
● 29% collaboration and teamwork.
● 26% better communication skills.
● 13% digital literacy.
This shows that festive hiring is no longer just about filling frontline roles. Employers want
workers who are “career ready”, a sign that seasonal jobs are moving up the skills ladder.

The market outlook
The good news: 43% of employers say they’re hiring more this festive season than last
year. Sectors like e-commerce, logistics, retail, and hospitality are leading the way.
Employers are offering referral bonuses and higher hourly wages – but these don’t match
the stability-driven benefits workers are hoping for. This festive season, employers are
actively seeking to fill roles for marketing professionals, delivery drivers, and store
managers.

Methodology
This survey, conducted by Valuvox on behalf of Indeed, includes responses from 1,261
employers and 2,533 employees. The data was collected across 14 sectors as part of the
quarterly Indeed Hiring Tracker, which studies market trends based on the economic
factors shaping hiring activity in that period. This edition captures the shifts in India’s
employment landscape during the peak festive season.