What Factors Contribute to the 9% Growth in Hiring for FY26?
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Synopsis
The job market in India is booming! A new report reveals a remarkable 9% growth in white-collar hiring for FY26, driven by key sectors like pharma and real estate. Discover how specialized roles are thriving and what this means for fresh graduates entering the workforce.
Key Takeaways
- 9% year-on-year growth in white-collar hiring for FY26.
- Pharmaceuticals and real estate lead the growth.
- Significant demand for specialized roles in IT.
- Fresh graduate hiring increased by +6% YoY.
- Key talent hubs include Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune.
New Delhi, May 1 (NationPress) White-collar recruitment in India has experienced a promising beginning to FY 2025-26, achieving a 9% year-on-year increase, as reported on Thursday. The report from job portal Naukri indicated that this growth is primarily fueled by several sectors, including pharmaceuticals (+14%), real estate (+11%), GCCs (+10%), and oil and gas (+9%), which have played significant roles in the upward hiring trend.
The IT/Software Services sector saw a modest growth of +3% in hiring for April. There was particularly high demand for specialized positions, with full stack data scientists (+30%), Big Data testing engineers (+26%), and data platform specialists (+28%) experiencing notable increases in recruitment.
Unicorns demonstrated a robust hiring growth of +15%, surpassing that of foreign MNCs, indicating a sustained demand in emerging, digital-first companies.
The surge in the pharmaceuticals/biotech sector was largely driven by strong demand for Life Sciences (+20%) and research and development (+16%) professionals. Key talent hubs identified in the report include Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune.
The growth within the oil and gas sector marked a recovery from the decline observed in March, supported by increased hiring in procurement and supply chain (+25%) as well as sales and business development (+12%) roles.
"After a few subdued months with mid-single-digit growth, it is encouraging to witness double-digit growth in several core sectors this year," stated Dr. Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer of Naukri.com.
Furthermore, the report indicated that the hiring of fresh graduates experienced a +6% year-on-year (YoY) growth in April, with opportunities arising in sectors such as FMCG (+16%), media and entertainment (+15%), oil and gas (+23%), and beauty and wellness (+26%).
This data underscores a gradual expansion of entry-level hiring opportunities beyond the typical IT and BFSI sectors. Notably, freshers in the 13-20 LPA salary range saw an impressive +22% YoY increase—the highest across all experience levels, according to the report.
"A strong demand for premium talent and the rise in hiring for fresh graduates in core non-IT sectors are two significant trends," Goyal added.
Point of View
It is crucial to recognize that the current trends in hiring reflect a positive shift in India's economy. With growth across diverse sectors, this is an opportune moment for job seekers and businesses alike to adapt and thrive in a dynamic job market.
NationPress
17/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What sectors are contributing to the growth in hiring?
Key sectors contributing to the growth include pharmaceuticals, real estate, GCCs, and oil and gas.
How much growth did the IT sector experience?
The IT/Software Services sector experienced a modest growth of +3% in hiring.
What is the trend in hiring fresh graduates?
Hiring for fresh graduates rose by +6% year-on-year in April, with opportunities in various sectors.
Which cities are prominent in talent acquisition?
Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune have emerged as key talent hubs.
How has the oil and gas sector performed recently?
The oil and gas sector saw a recovery with hiring increases in procurement and sales roles.
