Non-IT hiring growth 2025 emerged as the main driver of India’s white-collar job market, according to a Naukri report released on December 22. Throughout the year, sectors such as hospitality, education, and real estate outpaced IT hiring, reshaping employment momentum across the country. While technology recruitment remained cautious, demand from non-IT industries provided stability and renewed confidence in the labour market.
What drove non-IT hiring growth 2025
Hiring activity started on a measured note in early 2025. During the January–March period, growth averaged close to 2%, reflecting employer caution amid global uncertainty. However, momentum built steadily as the year progressed. By mid-year, hiring accelerated across several service-led industries. Overall, the white-collar job market closed the year with an average growth rate of 6–7%.
Hospitality emerged as a standout performer. Hiring in the sector rose 23% in the latter part of the year as travel, tourism, and consumer spending recovered. Education followed with even stronger momentum, recording 28% growth by year-end, driven by demand for faculty, administrative roles, and edtech-linked positions. Real estate also expanded hiring by 17%, supported by sustained residential and commercial activity. Insurance added to the trend, delivering double-digit growth in the second half after a sharp rebound earlier in the year.
Hiring growth in non-IT sectors
Hiring growth in non-IT sectors reshaped the employment landscape, even as IT hiring showed signs of stabilisation. IT software roles declined by about 2% in the first quarter of 2025. From the second quarter onward, hiring steadied, with marginal improvements in select months. In contrast, non-IT sectors continued to add roles at a faster pace.
At the same time, AI and machine learning roles stood out as a key growth engine. AI/ML hiring grew 41% year-on-year between January and November. Growth crossed the 50% mark in the second half of 2025 and continued uninterrupted for six consecutive quarters.
Impact on freshers and cities
Non-IT hiring growth 2025 also supported fresher recruitment, particularly in the latter half of the year. Entry-level opportunities expanded beyond traditional metros. Cities such as Kolhapur, Guwahati, Patna, Mangalore, and Udaipur featured prominently among fresher hiring locations. Meanwhile, Global Capability Centre hiring remained broadly stable, recording around 3% year-on-year growth toward the end of 2025.
