This report compares the month-on-month (MoM) hiring trends across various industries and cities throughout 2025, highlighting the specific sectors and geographic hubs that drove recruitment momentum.
Quarter 1: New Year Positivity vs. Holiday Dips (Jan–Mar)
The year began with a steady trajectory, though cultural factors heavily influenced the monthly movement.
● January: Hiring began on a positive note with 4% YoY growth 1. Industry momentum was led by AI/ML (+26%) and FMCG (+16%), while city-specific surges were seen in Jodhpur (+35%) and Indore (+25%). Notably, Hyderabad established itself as a Unicorn hiring hub with a 74% surge in this niche.
● February: Momentum shifted to non-IT sectors. Hospitality (+20%) and Real Estate (+9%) were the primary industrial drivers. Geographically, Odisha (+29%) and Madhya Pradesh (+20%) emerged as the top-performing states.
● March: The market experienced a transient dip due to extended holiday weekends (Holi and Eid). While major sectors like Education (-14%) and Retail (-13%) saw declines, specialized hubs remained resilient; Pune (+5%) and Bengaluru (+3%) managed growth driven specifically by FMCG and Pharma recruitment.
Quarter 2 & 3: The Non-IT and AI Boom (Apr–Sep)
Hiring accelerated mid-year as non-IT sectors and emerging tech took the lead.
● April: Core sectors drove a 9% YoY increase 10. AI/ML (+49%) and Pharma (+14%), were the top industries, while Gandhinagar (+32%) and Raipur (+21%) led city growth
● June: A "double-digit jump" was recorded as the market grew 11% 13. Insurance (+32%) was the standout industry, particularly in fresher hiring (+59%). Geographically, Jaipur saw a massive 64% surge in BPO/ITES hiring.
● July: Non-IT sectors maintained the lead. Hospitality (+26%) and Insurance (+22%) were frontrunners. Agra saw a significant MoM spike of 26%, while Coimbatore and Kochi led in fresher recruitment.
● August: Specialized roles like AI/ML (+54%) saw high demand. While overall hiring grew a modest 3%, Hyderabad maintained its status as a tech powerhouse with a 45% surge in Unicorn recruitment.
● September: The quarter ended strongly with 10% growth. Insurance (+28%) and Real Estate (+26%) were the industrial engines, while Chennai became a Unicorn hiring hub with a 72% surge.
Quarter 4: Festive Volatility and Strong Recovery (Oct–Dec)
The final quarter saw the impact of "festive clustering" followed by the year's strongest recovery.
● October: The market saw a temporary 9% dip due to the Diwali impact. Almost all cities saw significant MoM declines, such as Ahmedabad (-24%) and Delhi (-22%). However, Accounting and Finance remained a defensive stronghold with 15% growth
● November: A massive recovery followed the festive lull, with a 23% YoY surge 26. Education (+44%) and Hospitality (+40%) were the fastest-growing industries. This surge was mirrored in Gandhinagar (+56%) and Lucknow (+32%)
● December: The year concluded with 13% growth. Accounting and Finance (+53%) saw its highest annual peak, while Insurance (+34%) and Hospitality (+29%) remained strong City growth was dominated by Raipur (+34%) and Gandhinagar (+33%)
Analogy for Understanding:The 2025 hiring landscape was like an oceanic tide. The industries acted as the tide levels, rising and falling based on sector-specific demand (like the high tide of AI/ML). The cities were the harbors; while some major harbors (Metros) remained consistently deep, the "emerging harbors" (Tier-2 cities like Gandhinagar and Raipur) saw the most dramatic changes in water level, often surging faster than the established ports when the tide turned.
MoM Trend Summary Table
| Period | Leading Industry | Leading City Hub |
| Q1 | AI/ML & FMCG | Jodhpur & Hyderabad |
| Q2 | Insurance & AI/ML | Gandhinagar & Jaipur |
| Q3 | Hospitality & Real Estate | Chennai & Raipur |
| Q4 | Education & Accounting | Gandhinagar & Kochi |
