According to the monthly report by Foundit, India’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities, along with Bengaluru, are leading the hiring surge in September 2025, with a 21% year-on-year (YoY) growth.
With such high numbers, the tier-2 and tier-3 cities have easily outpaced many major metro cities. The impressive numbers have also highlighted how hiring remains strong this festive season, with boosted employment opportunities across consumer-facing sectors, compared to 2024. Industries like e-commerce, hospitality, and gig roles saw the sharpest increase in hiring.
Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, Coimbatore, Indore, Bhubhaneswar, Kochi, Surat, Nagpur, and Chandigarh saw a hiring boost of 21% YoY in September 2025. This was driven by hiring within e-commerce warehousing, retail expansion, customer support hubs, and festive tourism.
“September’s hiring momentum reflects a powerful combination of festive demand and the structural rise of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as long-term talent hubs,” said Anupama Bhimrajka, Vice President of Marketing at Foundit.
“While metro markets continue to deliver steady growth, non-metro regions are leading the charge. This shift highlights a decentralised, diverse, and resilient employment landscape, creating opportunities for job seekers and strategic advantages for employers nationwide,” she added.
Within tier-1 cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata, the hiring surge was driven by IT, BFSI, and media & entertainment sectors. The demand for professionals in industries like tech, finance, and marketing also contributed to the hiring growth of 14% YoY.
For different functions, sales and marketing saw the sharpest increase in festive hirings at 5% YoY, followed by customer support and operations at 4% YoY. Creative and media roles also showcased a growth of 4% YoY, driven by campaigns and OTT activity. Technology and product roles held steady at 3% YoY while finance and accounting grew at 2% YoY, with contributions from festive loan and credit activity.
Hiring for entry-level roles constituted the majority of the festive hiring this year, showcasing growth compared to last year. In 2024, 42% of the festive season hirings were for entry roles, while in 2025, the number increased to 45%. This has been credited to e-commerce and customer support demand. As per the Foundit report, hiring for senior and leadership positions also showcased significant YoY growth.
