Where the Jobs Are in 2025: Hiring Trends Across India

Posted by Written by Dezan Shira & Associates Reading Time: 4 minutes

In 2025, India emerged as one of the leading global markets for hiring intent, supported by expansion strategies, digital transformation, and strong demand across energy, finance, IT, and communication services. Even as automation and shifting market dynamics redefine jobs, traditional sectors and the gig economy remain key sources of large-scale employment.

India continues to demonstrate strong global standing in employment prospects. Indian employers are set to ease hiring in October–December 2025, even as recruitment sentiment shows marked improvement from 2024, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.

Latest market analysis predicts Indian employers are expected to slightly reduce hiring in the upcoming months, although recruitment sentiment remains significantly stronger than last year. The net employment outlook (NEO) is driven by expansion plans and demand for tech skills, as per the experts. India maintains a strong global hiring outlook, particularly in the energy, finance, and information and technology (IT) sectors.

India’s hiring outlook in 2025

For the period of October to December, India ranked second among 42 countries for hiring intent by employers, according to the ManpowerGroup employment outlook survey. It is important to note that the survey divides 2025 into four quarters based on the calendar year, not the fiscal year. The quarters are classified as follows:

  1. Q1: January to March
  2. Q2: April to June
  3. Q3: July to September
  4. Q4: October to December

Hiring Expectations for Q4 of 2025 by Country

Country

Hiring intent

Country

Hiring intent

Country

Hiring intent

1. UAE

45%

6. Ireland

29%

11. Sweden

26%

2. India

40%

7. Guatemala

28%

12. Switzerland

26%

3. Brazil

36%

8. Netherlands

28%

13. Norway

25%

4. Costa Rica

35%

9. US

28%

14. Peru

25%

5. China

34%

10. Mexico

27%

15. Australia

24%

Source: Employment Outlook Survey

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The findings are based on interviews with 40,533 public and private sector employers across participating countries. In this hiring trends assessment, the market report uses the NEO as a benchmark, which is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers anticipating a decline in hiring from those expecting an increase. For Q4 2025, responses were collected between July 1 and July 31, 2025, covering various industries and organization sizes for consistent international comparisons.

Sectors leading workforce hiring trends in India

In the survey, 3,149 employers across India shared their hiring plans and the reasons driving their decisions. The outcome indicates strong optimism in several industries, with energy and utilities leading the trend. This sector reported the most positive outlook, showing an 18 percent increase in Q4 of 2025 in comparison to the same period last year.

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Other industries demonstrating robust hiring demand include financial services, real estate, communication services, IT, and healthcare. Notably, communication services recorded a 33 percent year-on-year rise in hiring intent for the upcoming months, signaling renewed growth in employment-intensive segments.

Other indicators

A key driver of job creation is business expansion, with 43 percent of the surveyed employers citing it as their main reason for workforce growth in Q4. At the same time, companies are responding to rapid technological change. About 36 percent of Indian employers plan to hire to keep pace with digital advancements, in line with Asia-Pacific trends. However, automation and shifting market demand are reshaping workforce needs—38 percent of employers attribute job reductions to automation, while 34 percent point to declining demand.

Employment landscape and consumption link

Labor force data issued by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on August 18, 2025, shows that India’s unemployment rate stood at 5.4 percent between April and June in 2025 among those aged 15 and above. India’s labor force participation rate (LFPR) improved to 54.9 percent in July 2025, up from 54.2 percent in the previous month. At present, the largest employing sectors in India are as follows:

  • Agriculture: 45 percent
  • Trade, hotels, and restaurants: 12.1 percent
  • Construction: 13 percent
  • Manufacturing: 11.4 percent
  • Transport, storage, and communications: 5.4 percent

Hiring momentum in these sectors is expected to feed into consumption, which accounts for more than 60 percent of India’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Gig economy and e-commerce opportunities

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A separate white paper published in September 2025 highlights the rising role of e-commerce in shaping employment, particularly in Delhi-NCR. As per the market report, surveying over 90,000 residents across 15 districts in the country, it is revealed that 70 percent of gig workers in the Delhi-NCR region have seen higher disposable incomes through part-time, seasonal, and gig roles.

E-commerce platforms are increasingly seen as attractive employers by young workers, offering structured training, upskilling, and career growth opportunities. E-commerce and logistics giants like Amazon, Flipkart, Delhivery, and Meesho are at the forefront of this transformation, not only creating jobs but also formalizing employment in retail and logistics.

The report emphasized how investments in infrastructure, inclusive workplace practices, and skill development initiatives are fostering sustainable, long-term careers.

Key takeaways

  • India remains a global leader in hiring intent, ranking second among 42 countries despite a slight quarterly dip in sentiment.
  • High-growth industries—such as energy and utilities, financial services, real estate, IT, and communication services—are driving the demand for talent.
  • Traditional employment sectors like agriculture and construction continue to provide large-scale jobs, but hiring momentum remains steady rather than accelerating.
  • The gig economy and e-commerce platforms are reshaping employment patterns, offering structured career growth and boosting disposable incomes for young workers.
  • Hiring momentum is closely tied to domestic consumption, which remains the backbone of India’s economy, contributing over 60 percent to GDP.

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