India, 28 October 2025: India’s white-collar hiring activity eased in October 2025 as the Diwali-Dussehra festive cluster temporarily slowed recruitment momentum. The Naukri JobSpeak Index recorded 2,480 points during the month, marking a 9% year-on-year dip. Adjusted for the holiday effect, the data signals an underlying 3% growth,underscoring the market’s resilience at the start of Q3
While the festive season led to a broad-based slowdown, sectors such as Accounting & Finance (+15%), Education (+13%), and BPO/ITES (+6%) defied the trend with positive growth. The demand for professionals in AI/ML roles also continued its unabated climb, with a significant 33% YoY increase in hiring. Most other sectors, including bellwether IT (-15%) and Banking
(-24%), witnessed a contraction in hiring activity during the month.
Education Sector Shines with 13% Growth, Propelled by Fresher and Startup Hiring
The Education sector stood out as a significant growth engine in October, recording a healthy 13% YoY increase in hiring activity. This momentum was geographically widespread, with major contributions from Hyderabad (+47%), Chennai (+34%), and Bengaluru (+31%).
Hiring for freshers (0-3 years of experience) in the sector grew by a notable 25%. Furthermore, hiring by startups in the education space surged by an exceptional 77% compared to the same month last year.
IT Sector Contracts Amidst Festive Slowdown, but Emerging Tech and Unicorns Hold Ground
The IT sector recorded a 15% YoY contraction, reflecting the festive impact. However, the data reveals pockets of significant strength within the technology domain. The Emerging Technologies sub-sector, which includes companies working on blockchain and cryptocurrency, registered a remarkable 60% YoY growth, showcasing sustained investment in future-forward skills.
Furthermore, hiring activity within IT unicorns remained stable this month, demonstrating considerably more resilience than IT hiring in Foreign MNCs (-14%) and GCCs (-15%).
Demand for Specialized Skills Intensifies, with Machine Learning Roles Surging 139%
The demand for niche and high-skill talent continued to intensify, with several specialized roles posting exceptional growth. Hiring for Machine Learning Engineers led this trend with a massive 139% surge, underscoring the critical importance of AI expertise across industries.
Other specialized roles that saw a significant increase in demand include Search Engineers (+62%), Medical Biller/Coders (+41%), Transition Managers (+35%), and Manufacturing Engineers (+32%). This highlights a clear trend where employers are prioritizing professionals with specific, high-value skill sets.
BPO/ITES Sector Maintains Upward Trajectory, Fueled by Fresher Intake
The BPO/ITES sector continued its steady growth with a 6% YoY increase in hiring activity. The expansion was largely powered by the intake of entry-level talent, with hiring for professionals in the 0-3 years experience bracket growing by a strong 20%.
Geographically, the growth was driven by strong performances in both metro and emerging cities. Coimbatore (+33%), Chennai (+29%), and Bengaluru (+17%) were the top performers, reinforcing their status as key hubs for the BPO/ITES industry.
Dr. Pawan Goyal, Chief Business Officer, Naukri, said, “The moderation in October hiring was expected, given the clustering of major festive holidays like Diwali and Dussehra in the same month. Once adjusted for this seasonal effect, the underlying hiring trend remains positive (3%), reflecting a steady start to Q3. It’s encouraging to see Education and BPO sectors sustain their growth momentum alongside continued demand for specialized, high-skill roles.”
