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India’s festive season is expected to create more than 2.16 lakh seasonal jobs in the second half of 2025, with hiring demand for gig and temporary roles projected to rise by 15–20% compared to last year, according to HR solutions firm Adecco India.
Retail, e-commerce, logistics, BFSI, hospitality, and travel are leading the surge, fueled by early sales rollouts from platforms like Flipkart and Amazon, and upcoming festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Dussehra.
“The demand curve this year is sharper and more structured,” said Deepesh Gupta, Director and Head of General Staffing at Adecco India. “Companies are focusing on workforce readiness and regional agility, not just volume.”
Metro cities—Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune—continue to lead festive hiring, with demand up 19% over last year. However, hiring in tier 2 cities such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Nagpur, and Varanasi has surged by 42%. Emerging hubs like Kanpur, Kochi, and Vijayawada are also witnessing increased activity.
Salaries are expected to rise 12–15% in metro areas and 18–22% in smaller cities. Adecco also noted a 23% year-on-year increase in women participating in the seasonal workforce.
Logistics and delivery roles are projected to grow by 30–35% as companies strengthen last-mile operations. In the BFSI sector, hiring is focused on expanding credit card sales and POS installations in non-metro areas. E-commerce and retail are expected to contribute 35–40% of total seasonal job creation, while hospitality and travel may see a 20–25% hiring uptick.
The majority of new hires are expected to be between 18 and 30 years old, with many entering the workforce for the first time or bringing prior gig experience.
Adecco plans to deploy 8,000–10,000 seasonal hires between July and December, with growing demand from smaller towns reflecting broader economic optimism and increased rural spending power.
(Source: PTI)
