India’s workforce entered 2025 with strong momentum, as the country’s job market recorded a 30% year-on-year surge in job applications in the first quarter, a latest report said. The platform received 1.81 crore job applications, driven by a sharp rise in participation from women and freshers, and accelerated hiring across tier 2 and 3 cities.
According to Apna, a jobs and professional networking platform, ‘India at Work – Q1 2025 report’, women submitted over 62 lakh job applications in the first quarter of 2025 — a 23% increase from the same period last year — driven by flexible work options and gender-inclusive hiring in sectors such as BPO, finance, HR, and education. Cities like Chandigarh, Indore, and Jamshedpur saw women’s applications more than double, surpassing growth rates in major metros.
Freshers also made a strong mark, with over 66 lakh applications — a 46% annual increase. Talent from smaller cities like Warangal, Jabalpur, and Prayagraj saw 20–50% growth, reflecting a shift in corporate hiring focus beyond metro hubs. More than 70% of new fresher users on Apna held formal degrees or professional certifications, aligning with the rising demand for skill-ready talent.
On the hiring side, over 3.1 lakh jobs were posted in Q1 — up 26% year-on-year. Moreover, small and medium businesses (SMBs) led the charge with 2.1 lakh postings, while enterprises like LIC, Flipkart, and Paytm added over 1 lakh roles. Notably, SMBs posted 28,547 women-specific roles, a 51% rise from last year.
Further, the demand for tech talent surged as well, with a 65% increase in developer job postings. Cities like Rajkot, Indore, and Lucknow emerged as unexpected tech hubs, powered by India’s deepening digital infrastructure and the shift to remote work.
Apna CEO Nirmit Parikh said, “From Delhi to Dehradun, India’s hiring landscape is being reshaped by inclusion, technology, and ambition. The future of work is no longer centered in metros — it’s everywhere.”
Apna is a jobs and professional networking platform.