White-Collar Hiring Rises By 9% In December; Driven By AI/ML & Creative Sectors

According to a report released on Thursday, White-collar hiring activity in December 2024 witnessed a 9% year-on-year growth, propelled by demand for high-skill and strategic roles.

Naukri JobSpeak’s index reached 2,651 points in December, reflecting robust hiring activity and signaling a positive outlook for 2025.

Major contributors to the hiring surge included:

• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (36%),
• Oil and Gas (13%),
• FMCG (12%), and
• Healthcare (12%)

Top metro cities collectively posted a 10% increase in hiring activity as the year concluded.

Naukri JobSpeak, a monthly index that tracks Indian job market trends, bases its insights on new job listings and recruiter activity on Naukri.com’s platform.

Fresher hiring, which had been subdued for most of 2024, grew by 6% in December, driven by creative and retail sectors.

Design roles led the surge with 39% growth, followed by Beauty and Wellness (26%) and Consumer Durables (19%).

Additionally, the FMCG sector recorded its highest monthly fresher hiring growth of the year at 18%, marking a significant achievement.

Creative industries exhibited a technological shift, with roles like video editing and interior design gaining prominence, highlighting the growing demand for storytelling and innovation.

The Architecture and Interior Design industry showed exceptional performance, with a 39% rise in fresher hiring, contributing to the design sector’s overall growth of 51%.

South India however emerged as a strong hub for white-collar jobs.

Chennai and Bangalore posted growth rates of 35% and 21%, respectively, while Coimbatore stood out with a 14% rise in fresher hiring, boosted by a 52% increase in foreign MNC recruitment.

Hyderabad also saw a 15% increase, driven by IT, Consumer Durables, and Real Estate sectors.

Expert Insights: How Hiring Trends In India Are Shaping Up For 2025

Pawan Goyal, Naukri.com Chief Business Officer stated, “India’s job market is entering 2025 with vigour, driven by AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning) growth and creative sectors. The surge in fresher hiring and evolving C-suite roles shows we’re transforming into a more dynamic landscape. Traditional sectors like FMCG are embracing this evolution, combining fresh talent with strategic expertise.”

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