Indeed Reports Festive Season Hiring Boom: Tier 2 & 3 Cities Lead with Significant Growth

New Delhi: Indeed As the festive season approaches, businesses across India are gearing up for a substantial increase in seasonal hiring. Indeed, the global job matching and hiring platform, projects a notable 20% rise in seasonal job postings compared to the previous year. This increase is not confined to major metropolitan areas but is prominently observed in Tier 2 and 3 cities, which are emerging as key drivers of this growth.

Tier 2 & 3 Cities: A New Frontier for Seasonal Hiring

In bustling metropolitan areas like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Kolkata, seasonal job postings are anticipated to rise by 18-20% from last year. However, the real standout is the growth in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Cities such as Nagpur, Jaipur, Vadodara, Kochi, Vizag, Madurai, Lucknow, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Indore, Coimbatore, Surat, Bhubaneswar, and Bhopal are witnessing an even more significant increase, with hiring rates soaring by 22-25%.

This shift is driven by several factors. Companies are increasingly focusing on Tier 2 and 3 cities to expand their market reach and tap into emerging consumer bases. Rising consumer spending in these regions, fueled by improved economic conditions and growing disposable incomes, is a major factor. Additionally, the increased penetration of the internet and digital technologies has empowered e-commerce, retail, and logistics companies to enhance their customer services, thereby creating a robust demand for a flexible workforce to handle seasonal surges.

Top Job Roles in Demand

Indeed’s data highlights the roles expected to see the highest increase in seasonal hiring this year:

Delivery Executives: 30%
Warehouse Workers (Packaging, Labeling, and Order Fulfillment Staff): 25%
Logistics Coordinators: 20%
In-store Sales Executives: 15%
Customer Care Executives: 15%

The significant demand for delivery executives is driven by the surge in online shopping, which necessitates more personnel to manage increased order volumes. Warehouse workers are crucial for handling the higher volume of goods, while logistics coordinators and customer care executives are in demand to streamline operations and enhance customer service during the peak festive period.

Industries Fueling the Seasonal Job Growth

Several industries are showing a marked increase in their demand for seasonal workers:

E-commerce: 35%
Logistics: 15%
Retail: 14%
Quick Commerce: 11%
BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance): 9%
Consumer Products: 8%
Tourism & Hospitality: 5%
Manufacturing: 3%

E-commerce leads the trend with a 35% increase in job postings, driven by the booming online shopping sector. The logistics industry follows with a 15% rise in hiring, as companies expand their workforce to support the growing demands of transportation, warehousing, and delivery. Retail also sees a significant boost, with a 14% increase in hiring to manage increased foot traffic and enhance customer engagement.

The quick commerce sector, focusing on ultra-fast delivery services, shows an 11% increase in hiring for delivery and fulfillment roles. The BFSI sector is seeing a 9% rise in demand for customer service and sales roles due to the increased need for financial products. The consumer products industry is scaling up to meet higher production and distribution needs, while tourism and hospitality are adding staff to cater to renewed travel interest. Manufacturing is also ramping up its workforce by 3% to manage production and supply chain demands during the festive season.

Methodology

The insights in this article are sourced from Indeed’s Hiring Tracker, a quarterly report that provides an in-depth analysis of employment trends and job market dynamics. This report sheds light on seasonal hiring patterns and the evolving demands of the labor market during peak periods.

As businesses prepare for the festive season, the notable rise in hiring across Tier 2 and 3 cities underscores a significant shift in the job market. This trend highlights the growing importance of these emerging markets and reflects broader economic changes shaping India’s employment landscape.