India’s Festive Season to Fuel 2 Lakh New Job Openings

India’s festive season hiring wave is set to generate over 2 lakh jobs this year, spread across retail, e-commerce, logistics, and consumer services. The recruitment drive, which kicks off in mid-August, is expected to see 20–25% higher hiring compared to last year, fuelled by strong demand in quick commerce, third-party logistics, and last-mile delivery. Significant investments in supply chain and fulfilment infrastructure are also driving the boom.

According to staffing firm NLB Services, 70% of these jobs will be gig-based, such as delivery partners, warehouse staff, and customer service executives, while 30% will be permanent positions. The shift toward a blended workforce model reflects companies’ efforts to balance flexibility with scale. Interestingly, around 26% of temporary staff hired this season are expected to be retained beyond the festive period, signalling a gradual move from purely seasonal hiring to long-term workforce planning.

A major highlight of this year’s hiring trend is the growing importance of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Locations like Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Indore, Surat, and Nagpur are projected to see 30–40% more gig hiring compared to last year. With these smaller cities emerging as micro-fulfilment hubs for e-commerce and retail, their contribution to total gig hiring could rise from 47% in FY25 to 50% in FY26.

Another notable shift is the rising participation of women in the gig economy. Roles in customer support, grooming services, food delivery, and quick commerce are seeing 30–35% more female hires than last year, expanding workforce diversity in traditionally male-dominated gig roles.

“Over 35% of businesses are now rethinking festive hiring as a component of their long-term talent strategy. We’re seeing companies invest in pre-festive skilling initiatives, revisit their workforce diversity goals, and increasingly view seasonal demand as a testing ground for agile workforce models. While metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi continue to lead in demand by volume, the real growth momentum is shifting to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities-where talent supply is strong, operational costs are lower, and attrition rates remain minimal,” said Sachin Alug, CEO of NLB Services.

E-commerce giant Myntra is already witnessing this trend. The company reported a 150% rise in direct-to-consumer beauty product adoption from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, particularly in the Northeast and East, underlining the shift in consumer power beyond metros.

With increased demand, deeper market penetration, and evolving workforce strategies, this festive season promises not just a hiring spree but a reshaping of India’s employment landscape.