India, 1 February 2026: India’s white-collar hiring started 2026 on a gradual footing, with the Naukri JobSpeak Index climbing to 2637 factors in January – a 3% YoY rise from 2550 factors in January 2025.
Non-IT sectors had been the first drivers of this development, with BPO/ITES surging +21%, Hospitality/Journey climbing +15%, Insurance coverage advancing +7%, and Healthcare gaining +5%. Banking and Monetary Companies was one main non-IT sector to see a decline, slipping -15% YoY. In the meantime, the IT sector remained flat for the month. Inside this panorama, AI/ML roles sustained robust momentum with a +34% rise.
Total more energizing hiring grew +8%, signaling increasing entry-level alternatives throughout the board.
BPO/ITES Growth Continues, Anchored by Non-Metro Markets and International MNCs
Over the previous three months, BPO/ITES has persistently ranked among the many prime 5 sectors for double-digit YoY development. In January 2026, hiring within the sector rose 21% YoY, supported by broad-based demand throughout expertise ranges, together with a robust 39% improve in more energizing hiring and a 9% rise amongst professionals with 13-16 years of expertise. Non-metro cities emerged as key drivers, with Jaipur (+66%) and Ahmedabad (+43%) posting standout contributions.
International multinational companies (MNCs) had been a significant drive behind this surge, contributing greater than an 80% improve in hiring exercise.
Healthcare Sustains Regular Momentum with Broad Geographic and Expertise Protection
Healthcare recorded a +5% YoY development in January 2026, underscoring its ongoing resilience as an important sector over the previous three months. Hiring confirmed constructive enlargement throughout expertise bands, with more energizing recruitment (0-3 years) main at +11% YoY. Progress was additionally evident within the 8-12 years band (+4%), 13-16 years band (+7%), and 16+ years band (+4%).
Geographically, the uptick was spearheaded by Pune (+23%), Chennai (+18%), Bengaluru (+17%), and Ahmedabad (+16%), reflecting robust contributions from each established southern hubs and fast-emerging western markets. Indian MNCs drove a lot of this momentum, posting a strong +30% YoY improve in healthcare hiring.
Strategic Divergence in IT: Indian MNCs & 20+ LPA Hiring Defy Broader Sectoral Stagnation
Whereas general IT hiring barely corrected by -2% YoY, Indian MNCs within the sector bucked the development with a robust +32% improve in hiring exercise. Excessive-value roles (20+ LPA) additionally confirmed resilience with +10% development.
Non-IT Sectors Emerge because the Engine of More energizing Hiring
Non-IT sectors have steadily expanded more energizing hiring over the previous 12 months. In January 2026, hiring for 0-3 12 months roles rose sharply throughout key industries: Hospitality (+33%), Insurance coverage (+35%), BPO/ITES (+39%), and Actual Property (+42%). This upward development has held regular over the previous three months, pointing to sustained momentum in entry-level expertise absorption.
Dr. Pawan Goyal, Chief Enterprise Officer, Naukri mentioned, “It’s encouraging to see sustained year-on-year development in key sectors like BPO/ITES and Hospitality. These areas have proven constant momentum over current months and have kicked off 2026 on a robust, constructive be aware. Equally promising is the strong efficiency from Indian IT MNCs, which bodes effectively for the general job market.”
Methodology
The Naukri JobSpeak is a month-to-month index that tracks developments in India’s job market and hiring exercise, based mostly on new job postings (together with free job listings*) and recruiter searches on Naukri.com’s resume database. Utilizing July 2008 as the bottom month (Index = 1,000), the index analyses hiring patterns throughout industries, cities, and expertise ranges. It aggregates knowledge from over 150,000 shoppers, masking 80 lakh+ new job mandates yearly.
*Following the inclusion of free listings, hiring exercise is witnessing a transient uplift on account of larger participation from small and medium companies, which is anticipated to normalise as soon as the bottom adjusts over the subsequent few months. The index excludes gig employment, hyperlocal hiring, and campus placements.
About Jobs
Naukri, pioneering e-recruitment in India since 1997, is the nation’s main job website and Information Edge’s flagship model. As the primary web firm to be listed in India, Information Edge via Naukri has maintained the very best market share and model consciousness amongst each job seekers and recruiters for over 20 years. The platform has persistently outperformed opponents, making it synonymous with on-line job search in India.