Indian job market enters 2025 on steady footing; white-collar hiring in Jan marks 4% YoY growth

India’s white-collar job market started 2025 on a steady footing, registering a 4% year-on-year increase in hiring, driven by strong demand in traditional sectors like FMCG (+16%), Insurance (+15%), and Pharma (+11%), according to job platform Naukri’s JobSpeak Index for January 2025.

The index stood at 2,550 points, reflecting stable hiring trends despite continued sluggishness in IT, which saw a 1% dip.

“In 2024, January had greeted us with a disappointing 11% de-growth in hiring. In contrast, 2025 seems to have started on a positive note,” said Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer, Naukri.


While IT hiring remained subdued, Jaipur defied the trend with a 38% surge in technology jobs, highlighting the rise of emerging tech hubs. The momentum extended across Rajasthan, with Jodhpur (+35%) and Udaipur (+32%) also recording strong hiring growth.

Retail, which had struggled with negative growth, finally saw a turnaround, registering 1% growth. Bangalore and Delhi NCR were key contributors, with 7% and 4% growth, respectively, driven by mid-level management hiring.

Goyal said, “The 4% hiring growth is tempered as IT recovery settles in; however, strong growth in core sectors like FMCG, Pharma, Insurance, and Hospitality is a good sign and augurs well for a cracking 2025 in terms of white-collar hiring.”

The Aviation and Aerospace sector saw one of the highest surges, growing 33% year-on-year, with Delhi NCR leading at 77%. The demand was concentrated in mid-level positions, with hiring for professionals with 4-7 years of experience up by 22%.

The Media & Entertainment industry also saw a 14% increase, with Mumbai fueling growth (+4%) and balanced hiring across experience levels—16% for freshers, 15% in the 4-7 year band, and 17% in the 8-12 year segment.

Fresher hiring remained stable at 3% growth, largely driven by non-IT industries. Beauty & Wellness (+21%), KPO/Research/Analytics (+26%), and Hospitality (+18%) led the demand for entry-level talent, indicating a broadening job market for young professionals.

Meanwhile, unicorn hiring saw a 25% surge, with Hyderabad posting a staggering 74% growth, followed by Chennai at 60%. Banking and Financial Services unicorns saw 35% growth, while IT and Internet/E-commerce unicorns posted 16% and 18% increases, respectively.

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 suggests a shift in employment dynamics beyond traditional metros.