With the festival season fast approaching, industries in India are gearing up for a significant rise in temporary hiring. According to staffing firms like Quess Corp, Randstad, Adecco, CIEL HR Services, and TeamLease Services, an estimated 600,000 to 700,000 jobs are likely to be created during this period. This surge in demand for temporary workers is driven by a boost in consumer spending, a recovering rural economy, and a buoyant stock market, as reported by The Economic Times.
E-commerce and logistics sectors are expected to see the most substantial growth in temporary hiring, with an anticipated 30-35 per cent increase. However, the demand is also robust across other industries such as consumer goods, banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), retail, and hospitality. Early signs of festive demand are already evident, with the festival season starting from Raksha Bandhan in August through to Christmas and the New Year.
The festival season is a crucial period for businesses, accounting for nearly two-thirds of annual revenue in the consumer goods sector. With more holidays in August due to the alignment of various holidays like Independence Day, businesses are preparing for a surge in demand and are expected to launch new products and offers during this time.
E-commerce is likely to lead the hiring surge, with companies gearing up for increased sales and the need for additional manpower. Consumer durables, retail, e-commerce, supply chain operations, tourism, hospitality, and manufacturing are the primary drivers of this increased demand for temporary workers.
Randstad India estimates that between late August and December, 600,000 to 650,000 temporary jobs will be created, representing a 20 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The demand for temporary staff is expected to rise across various sectors, with e-commerce, logistics, and last-mile delivery sectors leading the surge.
Notably, tier-2 and tier-3 cities are also experiencing a rise in temporary hiring, driven by increasing urbanization, the expansion of malls and quick-service restaurants, and improved consumer spending. Cities like Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Lucknow, Vadodara, Surat, Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Vizag are seeing a 25-30 per cent increase in temporary hiring compared to the previous festival season.
TeamLease Services reported strong demand for positions such as delivery personnel, warehouse workers, customer service representatives, and packaging and order fulfillment staff, particularly from the e-commerce sector. This surge in temporary hiring reflects the booming festival season as businesses ramp up their operations to meet consumer demand.
In conclusion, the festival season in India is not only a time for celebration but also a crucial period for businesses to capitalize on increased consumer spending. The rise in temporary hiring across various industries signifies the need for additional manpower to meet the demands of the festive season. As businesses gear up for this busy period, the temporary job market is expected to see a significant surge in the coming months.