India’s white-collar job market kicked off 2026 on a steady note, with January registrations climbing 3% year-on-year. Non-IT sectors and fresh graduate hires drove this uptick, signaling resilience amid economic shifts.
The latest Jobspeak Index, released Monday, spotlights non-IT industries as the growth engines. BPO/ITeS led with over 21% surge, followed by hospitality and travel at 15%, insurance above 7%, and healthcare exceeding 5%. These sectors are absorbing talent at a brisk pace, countering broader slowdowns.
Banking and financial services bucked the trend, dipping 15% annually. IT remained flat overall, but AI and machine learning roles exploded by more than 34%, underscoring tech’s evolving demands.
BPO/ITeS has consistently ranked in the top five for three months, boasting double-digit growth. January saw total hires jump 21%, with freshers up 39% and professionals with 13-16 years experience rising 9%.
Non-metro cities shone brightly. Jaipur’s hiring soared over 66%, Ahmedabad by 43%. Multinational corporations, especially foreign ones, fueled this with over 80% increase in recruitment activities.
Pune spearheaded geographic gains at 23%, trailed by Chennai (18%), Bengaluru (17%), and Ahmedabad (16%). This blend of southern powerhouses and western emergents paints a vibrant employment landscape.
Naukri.com’s Chief Business Officer Dr. Pawan Goyal noted the sustained growth in BPO/ITeS and hospitality as encouraging. ‘These sectors have started 2026 strongly, and Indian IT MNCs’ performance bodes well for the job market,’ he said.
As companies prioritize efficiency and expansion, this momentum could sustain through the year, offering hope to job seekers navigating a competitive arena.