Hiring Activity Rises 6 Pc In April, Insurance Sector Top Boost: Report

India's white-collar hiring grew by 6% year-on-year in April this fiscal, mainly driven by insurance, BPO/ITeS, and real estate sectors, according to a report released on Friday.

Insurance led the sectoral hiring by registering 21% year-on-year growth, followed by BPO/ITES (15%), real estate (12%), healthcare (11%), and education (9%), according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index report.

However, telecom and banking sectors continued their four-month decline, falling to 11% and 10%, respectively, in April, while IT, pharma and auto remained largely flat, the report said.

Even hiring in the Global Capability Centre (GCC) witnessed a 4% dip in April, it added.

The Naukri JobSpeak Index report is a monthly index that tracks trends in India's job market and hiring activities.

When it came to geographies, among the top metros, southern cities dominated the trajectory, with Hyderabad recording 12% growth, followed by Bengaluru (7%) and Chennai (6%).

Delhi-NCR (at 3%) saw modest single-digit growth, Kolkata remained largely flat (1%), and Mumbai was the only major metro in negative territory at 3%, according to the report.

Beyond the metros, the report found that emerging cities like Jaipur (12%), Coimbatore (11%), and Ahmedabad (7%) continued to post firm growth, underlining the spread of hiring demand into tier-II markets.

"Hiring activity continues to show steady momentum, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index recording a 6% year-on-year growth. Sectors such as insurance, real estate, and healthcare are driving this expansion, reflecting both structural demand and increased consumer activity.

"While IT hiring remains stable, we are seeing some moderation in banking. Overall, the job market remains resilient, with sectoral shifts shaping the hiring landscape," Naukri.com MD and CEO Hitesh Oberoi said.