White collar hiring activity up 10% in October led by oil & gas, FMCG: Report

White-collar hiring activity in India experienced a 10% YoY growth in October, driven primarily by recruitment in sectors such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, and IT, according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index. The index reached 2,733 points in October, up from 2,484 points in the same month last year, with notable growth in AI/ML roles, which surged 39%. The IT sector showed positive hiring trends in four out of the seven months of the financial year, indicating a favourable outlook for the remainder of the year. Additionally, global capability centres (GCCs) saw a 17% increase in hiring, with emerging hubs like Kolkata and Ahmedabad gaining traction.

The report also highlighted a significant rise in data-focused positions during the festive period, with roles such as data/big data testing engineers and full-stack data scientists witnessing substantial growth. Moreover, after a slow start to 2024, hiring for freshers showed promising signs, with a 6% YoY increase in October. The southern states of India led the way in white-collar hiring, with Tamil Nadu showing the highest growth at 24%, followed by Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. Naukri Chief Business Officer Mr. Pawan Goyal noted that the rise in fresher hiring reflects growing business confidence and presents exciting opportunities for new graduates.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.