Festive hiring in India rises 17% as gig, temporary jobs surge: Report
- IBEF
- November 12, 2025
India’s festive season hiring activity rose sharply, with overall recruitment volumes up 17% YoY across key consumption-driven sectors between August and October 2025, according to a report by Adecco India. The surge was fuelled by upbeat consumer sentiment, aggressive festive promotions, and expanding penetration in tier II and III cities. The report noted a 25% increase in gig and temporary jobs over 2024 levels, led by retail, e-commerce, Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), logistics, and hospitality. India's festive hiring this year reflects both economic confidence and the growing maturity of the gig economy. Hiring volumes and compensation payouts have surpassed the past three years, making 2025 the strongest year since post-COVID normalisation, said Director and Head of General Staffing, Adecco India, Mr. Deepesh Gupta. Female participation rose 30-35%, particularly in retail, logistics, customer support, and financial services roles, while compensation grew 12-15% for entry-level and up to 22% for experienced positions.
The momentum is expected to continue through the wedding season and into March 2026, with hiring likely to grow another 18-20% YoY. Tier II and III cities accounted for nearly half of the incremental demand, with staffing in cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, Coimbatore, and Nagpur up 21-25% YoY, outpacing metro growth. Retail and e-commerce led hiring with a 28% rise, driven by omni-channel expansion and festive sales. In comparison, logistics and last-mile delivery roles grew the fastest at 35-40%. BFSI recruitment climbed 30% on strong demand for credit card, sales, and Point of Sale roles, and hospitality and travel saw a 25% rebound with a rise in bookings and events. Adecco said 2025 marks the strongest year for flexible employment since the pandemic, reflecting a resilient and diversified labour market in India.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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