Non-IT Sectors Steal The Show: Hospitality, Education Sectors Drive India's Job Market Growth in 2025

The hiring activity in 2025 witnessed a transition as recruitment was led by non-IT sectors with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) growing at 41% year-on-year (YoY) during the January to November period, according to India's top employment site's report. 

Not IT, These Sectors Led India's Job Market Growth In 2025 

While the IT-Software hiring declined by 2% in Q1 (calendar year), non-IT sectors such as hospitality recorded 23% growth in the latter part of this year. Education hiring also rose sharply, closing the year with 28% growth, meanwhile, the real estate sector registered a 17% increase in hiring, as per the Naukri report. 

Meanwhile, the boom in hiring recorded in AI/ML vertical remained constant for roles such as Machine Learning Engineers and Search Engineers, which ranked among the most sought-after jobs across all quarters.

The demand skewed strongly towards high-value talent. Hiring for AI/ML roles offering salaries of over Rs 20 lakh per annum surged to 62% growth during October–November.

The overall hiring averaged approximately “6–7% year-on-year growth, with notable spikes in November (+23%), June (+11%) and September (+10%).”

This steady improvement reflects growing confidence among employers and a gradual broadening of hiring beyond traditional technology-led demand.

Also Read: India, Canada Begin Framework Talks to Revive Free Trade Agreement

Stable GCC Hiring In 2025, Kolkata Records Highest Hiring Growth

“Global Capability Centre (GCC) hiring remained broadly stable in 2025, recording around 3% year-on-year growth in the latter part of the year. City-level trends, however, showed sharp divergence,” it said. 

Kolkata posted a significant 82% growth during the October–November period, while Chennai and Hyderabad recorded growth of over 20%, reflecting selective expansion in specific talent hubs, it added. 

Freshers Hiring Trend In Non-Metro Cities

Fresher hiring gained momentum through the year, particularly in the second half. Hiring for “professionals with 0–3 years of experience moved from being flat in JFM’25 to 11% year-on-year growth in the October–November period”, supported largely by non-IT sectors.

Cities such as "Kolhapur, Guwahati, Patna, Mangalore and Udaipur featured among the top locations for fresher hiring across different quarters", highlighting the gradual decentralisation of entry-level opportunities beyond traditional metros.