India’s white-collar job market delivered its strongest February performance in recent years, posting a robust 12% year-on-year growth. The Naukri JobSpeak Index jumped from 2,890 in February last year to 3,233 this time around, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Month-on-month, the index climbed 23% from January to February, surpassing the typical 13-16% seasonal uptick. This signals accelerating momentum in hiring activity across urban India.
Freshers with 0-3 years of experience saw a striking 17% annual increase in opportunities. Demand for high-paying roles offering over ₹20 lakh annually skyrocketed by 23%, reflecting confidence in premium talent acquisition.
Sector-wise, insurance led with a 28% surge, followed by BPO/ITeS at 22%, real estate at 19%, hospitality/travel at 15%, and retail at 14%. The IT sector, after quarters of stagnation, finally perked up with 6% growth.
AI/ML roles exploded by 49% year-on-year, underscoring the tech shift towards advanced skills. Within IT, entry-level positions under ₹20 lakh remained steady, but senior roles above that threshold boomed—19% for ₹20-50 lakh and a massive 45% for over ₹50 lakh.
Fresher hiring in IT rose 8%, driven by Indian MNCs which expanded 55% annually. Non-IT sectors spearheaded overall fresher recruitment gains.
Naukri.com’s Chief Business Officer Dr. Pawan Goyal attributed the 23% monthly jump to meaningful IT recovery and heavy AI investments by Indian giants. ‘This pre-fiscal year momentum is genuinely strong and bodes well,’ he noted.
BPO/ITeS hiring leaped 48% month-on-month, insurance 42%, retail and hospitality 39% each. High-salary fresher roles grew 30% annually, while professionals with 13-16 years experience saw 50% demand spike.
Indian MNCs drove 24% overall growth, with 82% surge in AI/ML hiring versus 43% for foreign peers. As India eyes FY25, this hiring frenzy hints at sustained economic vigor.