Surge in White-Collar Hiring This Festive Season Driven by Market Dynamics
A recent recalibration in Goods and Services Tax (GST), coupled with the burgeoning rise of Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) startups and an increasing demand for premium products, has catalyzed a notable uptick in white-collar hiring this festive season.
Online retail platforms, large-scale retailers, and logistics firms are actively onboarding seasoned professionals to adeptly navigate the bustling festive landscape and heightened consumer appetite.
According to the JobSpeak Index from job platform Naukri, the white-collar employment sector concluded the second quarter of the fiscal year 2025-2026 on a robust note, with September witnessing a 10% rise in hiring activity compared to the previous year.
“Festive hiring transcends mere numbers; it emphasizes the need for specialized roles,” remarked Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease Edtech.
“Retail and e-commerce entities are in pursuit of operations managers, digital marketing experts, supply chain strategists, and category connoisseurs to enhance customer engagement during peak periods.”
In addition to these roles, fields such as program management, software engineering, data analytics, procurement strategy, and operations management are also in significant demand.
Mid and Senior-Level Talent Remain Highly Valued
Despite the disruptions caused by Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in various sectors, the demand for mid- and senior-level professionals persists, particularly within e-commerce, quick commerce, and retail.
This demand is largely driven by the sector’s fast-paced environment. “This cohort of talent necessitates minimal training and requires virtually no handholding,” commented Divya Kurup, Business Head – Sales Staffing at Xpheno, a specialized staffing firm.
“Recruiting fresh graduates can be both costly and resource-intensive, and companies often lack the capacity to train and integrate new hires during peak festive seasons,” she added.
Logistics company Zippee has reported an impressive increase in its white-collar workforce, expanding nearly 200% year-on-year.
Angad Singh, a founding member, stated, “We are also poised to double our current headcount by March, broadening our capabilities across various functions and levels to accommodate growing operational and business demands.”
Moreover, Singh highlighted the organization’s emphasis on a high-performing Management Trainee program designed to provide young graduates with practical exposure to the multifaceted operations of a nascent quick commerce startup.
The cultivation of young professionals for hybrid roles—integrating customer operations with data-informed insights—has emerged as a pivotal focus for companies amid the festive rush.
At Myntra, Chief Human Resources Officer Govindraj MK noted that the company is fortifying its entry-level talent pipeline through structured internship initiatives, which have become vital conduits for campus recruitment.
“Recently, we welcomed 15 new interns in the latest iteration of Phoenix, our returnship program for female professionals, while the second edition of Udaan, our internship scheme for Persons with Disabilities, added 6 new interns,” he stated.
Campus Recruitment Dynamics During the Festive Season
Experts suggest that due to the associated costs and time investments, only larger corporations are engaging in campus recruitment this season. “Firms like Amazon and Flipkart have been proactively establishing ties with campuses for operations and strategic roles,” remarked Kurup.
Nevertheless, the past two to three recruitment cycles at campuses across various sectors have exhibited sluggishness. For students, festive hiring not only opens doors to seasonal employment but also paves the way for enduring career prospects in India’s expanding consumer landscape.
With escalating demand for mid-level professionals, Anupama Bhimrajka, VP of Marketing at foundit, indicated that average salaries for this segment range from ₹8.6–14.3 lakhs to ₹10.2–15.2 lakhs, contingent upon the role and experience.
Entry- and mid-level positions in digital marketing and operations have reported vigorous interest, with salaries varying from ₹3.5–6.4 lakhs for digital roles and ₹7.5–10.6 lakhs for operations managers. Entry-level procurement specialists are expected to command packages between ₹2.8–5.1 lakhs.
According to TeamLease’s career outlook report for H2 2025, hiring intentions within retail and e-commerce have ascended by 7–9% year-on-year, reaffirming ongoing optimism in India’s consumer-driven sectors.
This trend underscores that even in the era of AI disruption, human expertise in operations, strategy, and customer experience continues to be a crucial driver of growth.
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