Bengaluru, Oct 6 (NationPress) India’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities are at the forefront of the hiring boom in September, achieving a remarkable 21% year-on-year growth and surpassing metropolitan areas, as highlighted in a recent report released on Monday.

The monthly analysis from the jobs and talent platform foundit revealed that while overall hiring remains robust, the festive season has significantly enhanced employment prospects in consumer-centric sectors, showing growth even stronger than in 2024. The sectors experiencing the most significant increases include e-commerce, hospitality, and gig roles.

“The hiring activity in September is a testament to a powerful blend of festive demand and the ongoing emergence of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as enduring talent hubs,” stated Anupama Bhimrajka, VP of Marketing at foundit.

“While metropolitan areas continue to show steady growth, non-metro locations are taking the lead. This transformation underscores a more decentralized, diverse, and resilient employment landscape, creating valuable opportunities for job seekers and strategic benefits for employers nationwide,” Bhimrajka added.

In the tier-1 cities such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata, hiring has been driven primarily by the IT, BFSI, and media and entertainment sectors. The demand for tech, finance, and marketing professionals has surged, resulting in a 14% YoY growth in these urban areas.

Conversely, hiring in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, including Jaipur, Lucknow, Coimbatore, Indore, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Surat, Nagpur, and Chandigarh, saw a significant 21% YoY growth, spurred by demands in e-commerce warehousing, retail growth, customer support centers, and festive tourism, as indicated by the report.

Throughout various functions, sales and marketing witnessed the highest festive gains (+5% YoY), followed closely by customer support and operations (+4% YoY).

Creative and media roles also experienced a surge (+4% YoY) due to increased campaigns and OTT activities, whereas technology and product roles remained stable (+3% YoY). Finance and accounting roles saw modest growth (+2% YoY), aligned with festive loan and credit trends.

Moreover, entry-level positions (0-3 years) have dominated festive hiring, increasing their share from 42% in 2024 to 45% in 2025, driven by heightened demand in e-commerce and customer support. Senior and leadership roles also experienced notable year-on-year growth, as reported.