India’s white-collar job market registered a 7% year-on-year growth in July 2025, with non-IT sectors driving the hiring momentum, according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index released by Naukri, the online recruitment platform.
The JobSpeak Index rose to 3,074 in July, up from 2,877 a year earlier, marking a steady recovery in formal hiring activity across a range of industries. This resurgence was attributed primarily to increased demand from sectors such as hospitality (+26%), insurance (+22%), education (+16%), and oil & gas (+13%).
“Non-IT sectors have been showing solid hiring momentum for a while now, especially when it comes to fresher roles,” said Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer at Naukri.com, in a press release. “It’s encouraging to see this consistent demand coming from industries like hospitality, insurance and education.”
Education, Startups and GCCs Among Top Movers
The education sector posted its highest monthly growth in over a year, led by hiring spikes in Hyderabad (+32%), Bengaluru (+21%), and Pune (+20%). Notably, fresher hiring in education rose 35%, reflecting renewed investment in academic and edtech infrastructure.
Startups and unicorns continued to recruit aggressively, recording 10% and 23% growth respectively in July. Meanwhile, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) registered 5% overall growth, with Mumbai (+18%) outperforming other major metros. Within GCCs, hiring was strongest in strategy/management consulting (+47%) and KPO/research/analytics (+25%).
AI and Data Science in High Demand
While overall IT sector hiring remained flat, demand for niche tech roles remained robust. Hiring for AI and machine learning positions grew 41% year-on-year, underscoring continued demand for future-focused digital capabilities.
The report also highlighted strong demand in high-paying job categories. Roles with annual salaries exceeding ₹20 lakh saw a 21% increase, led by:
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Data science (+40%)
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IT and information security (+34%)
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Engineering (+30%)
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Risk and compliance (+26%)
This trend indicates that despite broader hiring moderation in tech, companies are willing to pay premium salaries for specialised skills.
Across experience levels, the job market appears to be expanding at both ends of the spectrum. Hiring for freshers grew by 8%, suggesting companies continue to invest in entry-level talent pipelines. Simultaneously, opportunities for professionals with over 16 years of experience increased by 13%, pointing to stronger demand for leadership and strategic roles.
Tier-2 Cities Lead Regional Growth
Hiring activity is no longer confined to metro hubs. Several tier-2 and tier-3 cities in western India emerged as vibrant job markets:
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Surat (+18%) and Jamnagar (+12%) in Gujarat
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Udaipur (+12%) and Jodhpur (+11%) in Rajasthan
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Kolhapur (+21%), Aurangabad (+15%), and Nagpur (+15%) in Maharashtra
Among major metros, Hyderabad (+9%), Delhi-NCR (+7%), and Chennai (+7%) also reported healthy hiring activity.
The July report suggests a diversifying hiring landscape, with non-tech sectors, emerging cities, and premium roles playing a central role in shaping demand. While tech hiring remains cautious overall, the continued growth in AI, data science, and cybersecurity roles signals that digital transformation investments remain intact, albeit more focused.
The expansion of hiring into smaller cities reflects both the growing penetration of remote and hybrid work models and the decentralisation of talent strategy by employers.
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