Naukri JobSpeak: New Year’s Cheer as Job Market Grows 9%, FMCG Sees Record Fresher Hiring
India, As we step into 2025 with renewed hope and ambition, the Naukri JobSpeak Index, India’s premier indicator of white-collar hiring activity, closed 2024 on a high note. The index reached an impressive 2,651 points in December, reflecting a robust 9% year-on-year growth—a promising sign for the year ahead.
December’s hiring activity showcased the Indian job market’s resilience and adaptability, with growth driven by high-skill and strategic roles, reinforcing a maturing job market and setting an optimistic tone for 2025.
Key sectors that were primary growth drivers in December 2024 included AI/ML (+36%), Oil & Gas (+13%), FMCG (+12%) and Healthcare (+12%). Top metro cities collectively posted a 10% growth, as the year came to an end.
Happy New Year, Freshers!
Fresher hiring, which had majorly been muted through 2024, saw an impressive 6% growth in December 2024, driven by creative, lifestyle and retail sectors like Design (39%), Beauty & Wellness (+26%) and Consumer Durables (+19%), respectively.
The FMCG sector achieved an 18% growth in fresher hiring during December 2024, marking the highest monthly increase for the sector in fresher recruitment throughout the year.
Creative Sector’s Technical Edge
The creative industry showed an interesting technical tilt in December. Video Editors and Interior Designers were among the top roles hired, reflecting a balanced demand for visual storytelling and spatial innovation.
The Architecture and Interior Design industry stood out with a 39% growth in fresher hiring, contributing to the design sector’s impressive 51% growth overall. At the same time, the media production and entertainment sector emerged as one of the top three hiring departments (+19%). This momentum was further amplified by strong hiring in tech-forward roles like Machine Learning Engineers(+71%).
C-Suite Redefined
2024 marked significant evolution in executive hiring patterns, where seasoned professionals (more than 16 years of experience) remained constantly in demand, as did professionals in the 20+ LPA salary bracket (+29%) across key sectors. Additionally in December, beyond traditional CFO and CTO roles, demand surged for specialized positions like Chief Safety Officers (+14%), Chief Legal Officers (+12%), and Chief Medical Officers (+3%). This C-Suite diversification is also evidenced by the 17% growth in Strategic & Top Management hiring, during the month.
Consumer Durables Shines Bright
Against the backdrop of a slight decline in overall retail hiring, the consumer durables sub-sector carved out an impressive 14% growth. The sector saw roles grow 21% in Bangalore and 35% in Chennai and also emerged as a significant driver of fresher hiring. Breaking the sector down further reveals that consumer electronics and appliances too posted a 14% growth in hiring.
Campaign Managers Lead Marketing Surge
The Sales & Marketing department’s 7% growth in December 2024 paints an evolving recruitment landscape, with Campaign Manager roles leading the charge at a robust 20% increase. This surge, combined with an 8% rise in Direct Marketing positions and 6% growth in Marketing Leadership roles, suggests companies are strengthening their core marketing muscle.
The steady uptick across digital positions – from Social Media to Content Marketing roles – further reflects a balanced approach to talent acquisition as organizations shape their marketing arsenals for the year ahead.
South India Maintains Momentum
Following the strong hiring trends highlighted in October, South India continued its robust performance into December 2024, reinforcing its position as a key driver of white-collar employment. While Chennai (+35%) and Bangalore (+21%) sustained their impressive growth, Coimbatore emerged as a standout, with fresher hiring growing by 14%, fueled by a 52% surge in foreign MNC hiring.
Hyderabad also posted 15% growth, reflecting the region’s sustained appeal for high-skill and fresher roles across sectors like IT, Consumer Durables, and Real Estate. These consistent gains underscore South India’s pivotal role in shaping India’s employment landscape.
Dr. Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer, Naukri.com shared, “India’s job market is entering 2025 with vigor, driven by AI/ML growth and creative sectors. The surge in fresher hiring and evolving C-suite roles shows we’re transforming into a more dynamic landscape. Traditional sectors like FMCG are embracing this evolution, combining fresh talent with strategic expertise.”