India's labour market is upward bound, the employment outlook achieving 43% in the second quarter of next year—18 points higher than the global norm—indicating a strong job hiring environment, as per a report published on Tuesday.
Hiring expectations continue to increase with Indian employers estimating a net employment outlook (NEO) at 43% for Q2 2025, as reported by the newest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.
This represents a 3-point gain from the last quarter and a 7-point improvement over the same quarter of 2024.
The poll, based on a survey of more than 3,000 employers in India, reflects increased optimism in the job market, with companies looking to grow their business and invest in technology and talented people to keep ahead.
"Hiring sentiment has picked up pace over the last quarter, reflecting the faith of Indian industry in overcoming a changing economic scenario," said Sandeep Gulati, ManpowerGroup India and Middle East Managing Director.
The tech, industrial, and financial industries are still driving hiring, with large corporations at the forefront of staff expansion drives.
"This expansion is driven by business growth, digitalization, and a firm belief in upskilling," added Gulati.
Outside of general employment patterns, 45% of Indian employers indicated that company growth was the chief cause of recruitment, followed by advances in technology that necessitated special skills (38%) and upskilling programs to remain competitive (35%).
Dissecting hiring prospects, 55% of employers will hire, 12% will see their workforce shrink, 29% expect no difference in staff size, and 4% are undecided.
Industry-wise, employment optimism continues to be robust, with Information Technology (55%), Industrial and Materials (48%), Healthcare and Life Sciences (42%), Transport and Logistics & Automotive (40%), and Communication Services (38%) all seeing an uptick from Q1 2025.
Regionally, the employment hiring prospects have improved in all four regions. Leading the pack with a 47% employment expectation is the West, followed closely by the North and East regions at 44%, and 39% in the South region, as seen in the report.
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