India’s job market continues on an upward trajectory, with white-collar hiring growing 9% over the past three months and 16% over six months, reflecting sustained demand across multiple sectors. The foundit Insights Tracker (fit) for January 2025 highlights key hiring trends, including a significant rise in green jobs, a resurgence in travel and retail, and strong hiring growth in Bengaluru and Tier-2 cities.
Hiring Trends: Sectors Driving Growth
The job market registered an impressive 32% YoY growth in January 2025, indicating renewed employer confidence. The travel & tourism and retail sectors saw the highest hiring surges, driven by rising consumer demand, digital transformation, and favorable government initiatives.
- Travel & Tourism: Hiring increased 17% in January 2025, supported by expanding domestic and international tourism, new aviation investments, and growth in eco-tourism and travel technology.
- Retail: Hiring rose 14% MoM and 24% YoY, fueled by e-commerce expansion, digital retail innovation, and increased consumer spending.
- Automotive: Hiring increased 13% over three months, backed by Union Budget 2025 incentives for EV manufacturing, infrastructure development, and clean mobility.
- BPO: The only major sector experiencing a slowdown, with hiring declining 9% in Bengaluru, followed by similar declines in Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR.
Green Economy and Sustainability-Driven Hiring
A key highlight of January 2025 hiring trends is the 41% increase in green jobs over the past two years, reflecting India’s continued investment in clean energy, sustainability, and eco-friendly industries. Bengaluru, Delhi, and Pune have emerged as leading hubs for green tech jobs, with growing demand for energy auditors, sustainability consultants, and renewable energy engineers.
Top industries driving green job growth:
- Semiconductors & Electronics (56% YoY growth): Increased demand for energy-efficient devices and green tech innovations.
- Waste Management (52% YoY): Expansion of recycling initiatives, circular economy models, and smart waste management technologies.
- Energy/Power (41% YoY): Rising investments in renewable energy, grid modernisation, and sustainable infrastructure.
- Manufacturing (38% YoY): Adoption of automation and energy-efficient production processes.
Green Jobs – Leading Roles & Salaries
The push for sustainability is driving demand for high-paying roles across industries:
- Sustainability Analyst/Manager: ₹5.6 – ₹16.2 LPA
- Renewable Energy Engineer: ₹6.4 – ₹15.3 LPA
- Environmental Consultant: ₹7.1 – ₹14.2 LPA
- Energy Auditor: ₹5.2 – ₹9.4 LPA
- Project Manager – Governance & Compliance: ₹8.9 – ₹28.9 LPA
Hiring for green jobs is expected to grow another 11% in 2025, driven by investments in solar energy, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen.
Geographic Hiring Trends – Bengaluru Leads, Tier-2 Cities Gain Momentum
While Bengaluru and Hyderabad remain key hiring hotspots, Tier-2 cities like Jaipur and Baroda are also witnessing strong employment demand.
- Bengaluru: 42% YoY growth, led by green jobs, IT, and software services.
- Coimbatore: 54% YoY growth, the fastest among Tier-2 cities.
- Hyderabad & Pune: 34% YoY hiring growth, driven by BFSI and HR/Admin functions.
- Delhi-NCR: 32% hiring growth, fueled by technology, financial services, and manufacturing.
Hiring Trends by Experience Level
Hiring demand remained strong across experience levels, with the highest growth in mid-level and entry-level roles:
- Mid-senior roles (7-10 years): 23% YoY growth
- Entry-level hiring (0-3 years): 22% YoY growth
- Senior-level positions (11-15 years): 7% YoY growth
- Executive roles (16+ years): 5% decline, indicating slower demand for leadership positions.
Conclusion
The January 2025 foundit Insights Tracker highlights a dynamic, future-ready workforce, driven by economic expansion, digital transformation, and sustainability initiatives. As India advances towards a tech-driven and green economy, hiring is expected to remain resilient, with sustained demand across travel, retail, and renewable energy sectors.
