US Hiring Activity Sees 6 Percent Increase in April, Led by Insurance Sector Growth

India's White-Collar Hiring Sees 6% Year-on-Year Growth in April

India's white-collar hiring saw a 6 per cent year-on-year growth in April this fiscal, driven mainly by the insurance, BPO/ITeS, and real estate sectors, according to the Naukri JobSpeak Index report released on Friday.

The report highlights the growth in various sectors, with insurance leading the pack at 21 per cent year-on-year growth, followed closely by BPO/ITES at 15 per cent, real estate at 12 per cent, healthcare at 11 per cent, and education at 9 per cent. In contrast, telecom and banking sectors continued their four-month decline, falling to 11 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, in April. IT, pharma, and auto sectors remained largely flat.

Interestingly, even hiring in the Global Capability Centre (GCC) witnessed a 4 per cent dip in April. The Naukri JobSpeak Index report is a monthly index that tracks trends in India's job market and hiring activities.

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When analyzing geographies, it is clear that southern cities dominated the trajectory, with Hyderabad recording 12 per cent growth, followed by Bengaluru at 7 per cent and Chennai at 6 per cent. Delhi-NCR saw modest single-digit growth at 3 per cent, while Kolkata remained largely flat at 1 per cent. Mumbai was the only major metro in negative territory, with a decline of 3 per cent.

Beyond the metros, emerging cities like Jaipur at 12 per cent, Coimbatore at 11 per cent, and Ahmedabad at 7 per cent continued to post firm growth, highlighting the spread of hiring demand into tier-II markets.

Sectoral Hiring Comparison

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The report concludes that hiring activity continues to show steady momentum, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index recording a 6 per cent 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, the report notes some moderation in banking. Overall, the job market remains resilient, with sectoral shifts shaping the hiring landscape.