The hiring for white-collar jobs in India rose 9% in December as compared to the same month in the previous year, a private survey released on Thursday showed.
The Naukri JobSpeak Index reached 2,651 points during the month from 2,439 points last year, driven by high-skill and strategic roles.
The top sectors that were primary growth drivers in December 2024 included artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) (+36%), Oil & Gas (+13%), FMCG (+12%) and Healthcare (+12%).
“India’s job market is entering 2025 with vigour, driven by AI/ML growth and creative sectors,” said Pawan Goyal, chief business officer, Naukri.com.
However, hiring in the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector saw a decline.
The hiring of freshers, which had majorly been muted throughout 2024, saw a 6% growth in December 2024. It was primarily driven by the creative, lifestyle and retail sectors. These include design (39%), beauty and wellness (26%) and consumer durables (19%).
For the FMCG sector, which has been struggling due to lower demand, the fresher hiring saw an 18% growth in December 2024, marking the highest monthly increase for the sector throughout the year.
In 2024, senior professionals (with experience of more than 16 years) saw the highest jump in demand at 23%.
Moreover, apart from traditional CFO and CTO roles, demand surged for specialised positions like chief safety officers (14%), chief legal officers (12%), and chief medical officers (3%).
“The surge in fresher hiring and evolving C-suite roles shows we’re transforming into a more dynamic landscape,” Goyal said.
“Traditional sectors like FMCG are embracing this evolution, combining fresh talent with strategic expertise.”