Chennai: India's white-collar job market saw a 4% year-on-year (YoY) growth in January 2025, driven by strong hiring in FMCG (+16%), Insurance (+15%), and Pharma (+11%), according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index.

The index stood at 2,550 points, indicating a steady hiring environment.

While IT hiring remained largely flat (-1%), Jaipur emerged as a key growth driver with a 38% surge. Rajasthan cities like Jodhpur (+35%) and Udaipur (+32%) also showed remarkable hiring momentum. The retail sector, recovering from a prolonged slump, posted 1% growth, with Bangalore and Delhi NCR leading the revival.

Fresher hiring saw a 3% uptick, led by the Beauty & Wellness sector (+21%) and KPO/Research/Analytics (+26%). Meanwhile, unicorn startups posted a 25% surge, with Hyderabad (+74%) and Chennai (+60%) leading the hiring spree.

The Aviation and Aerospace industry recorded a 33% YoY growth, with Delhi NCR witnessing a 77% hiring surge. The Media & Entertainment sector grew by 14%, with Mumbai driving expansion. Advertising & Marketing hiring rose by 4%, with Chennai (+24%) and Pune (+18%) emerging as new talent hubs.

Naukri's Chief Business Officer, Dr. Pawan Goyal, noted that the year started on a promising note, signaling robust hiring trends across key industries.