Key Points:
- Marginal Decline: India’s white-collar job market saw a 1.4% dip in March 2025 compared to the same month last year, driven by reduced hiring in retail, oil & gas, and education sectors.
- IT Sector Recovery: While overall IT hiring fell by 3%, emerging technologies like crypto and blockchain saw a 36% growth, and IT startups recorded an 11% increase.
- AI Adoption on the Rise: Generative AI and Machine Learning (AI-ML) roles grew by 25%, reflecting India’s increasing focus on AI-driven innovation.
- City-Specific Trends: Chennai led with a 29% surge in hiring, followed by Delhi NCR (23%) and Hyderabad (17%).
New Delhi: The Indian white-collar job market experienced a slight slowdown in March 2025, with hiring activity dipping by 1.4% compared to the same month last year, according to the latest Naukri JobSpeak Index report. This decline was primarily attributed to reduced recruitment in key sectors such as retail (-13%), oil & gas (-10%), and education (-14%). Despite this dip, pockets of growth in emerging technologies and AI-driven roles provided a silver lining.
Sector-Wise Performance
The retail sector faced the sharpest decline at 13%, followed by education (-14%) and oil & gas (-10%), reflecting shifting market dynamics and cautious hiring strategies. The IT sector also recorded a 3% drop in hiring; however, this marked an improvement from the steep 16% contraction observed in March 2024.
Interestingly, within IT:
- Emerging tech sub-sectors like crypto and blockchain reported a robust 36% growth.
- IT startups showed resilience with an 11% increase in hiring activity.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) roles also surged by 25%, underscoring India’s growing reliance on AI for business transformation.
City-Specific Hiring Trends
Hiring trends varied across cities:
- Chennai emerged as a leader with a 29% growth in unicorn recruitment.
- Delhi NCR followed closely with a 23% increase, while Hyderabad recorded a 17% rise.
These cities benefited from strong demand in IT, fintech, and e-commerce roles.
Impact of Holidays
Extended holiday weekends for Holi and Eid contributed to temporary dips in recruitment activity. However, Naukri Chief Business Officer Pawan Goyal noted that “most major sectors remained stable versus last year,” highlighting resilience in India’s job market despite seasonal fluctuations.
The Role of AI in Recruitment
Generative AI has become a strategic priority for Indian businesses, with over 80% of companies actively exploring its adoption. The demand for skilled professionals in AI-driven roles is reshaping recruitment trends:
- Machine learning engineers saw an impressive 88% growth.
- Investment banking analysts followed with a 35% increase, reflecting the need for specialized skills.
Despite these advancements, HR professionals face challenges finding candidates with the right mix of technical expertise (61%) and soft skills (57%). This skills gap continues to hinder employability, with only 42.6% of graduates deemed job-ready as per recent reports.
Future Outlook
While traditional sectors like retail and oil & gas grapple with declining hiring trends, emerging technologies, AI-driven roles, and IT startups are expected to drive growth. Experts predict that recruitment activity will pick up momentum in the coming months as businesses adapt to evolving market demands.
The marginal dip in March’s hiring activity reflects temporary challenges rather than long-term stagnation. With strong growth pockets like AI-ML and emerging tech sub-sectors, India’s white-collar job market remains poised for recovery and innovation-led expansion.
