India anticipates up to 250,000 seasonal jobs during festive half-year

India could add 200,000-250,000 seasonal and gig positions between July and December 2026, driven by a 15-20% rise in festive hiring across e-commerce and related sectors, according to NLB Services.

A report by global talent-solutions firm NLB Services estimates that India will generate between 200,000 and 250,000 seasonal and gig jobs from July through December 2026, reflecting a 15-20% increase in festive hiring. Companies across e-commerce, quick commerce, retail, logistics, hospitality, travel and consumer services are planning recruitment well in advance, typically 12-14 weeks before the holiday peak, to build talent pools and ease compressed hiring cycles.

The bulk of the demand will come from traditional operational areas such as last-mile delivery, warehousing, retail sales and customer experience, while new-age roles like dark-store inventory controllers and fraud-support staff are also set to grow 15-20%. Geographic diversification is notable, with tier-II and III cities like Jaipur, Lucknow, Indore, Surat, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Chandigarh and Kochi expected to provide roughly 45% of the seasonal workforce and see hiring growth of 25-30%.

The report highlights a shift toward more inclusive hiring, noting that women from non-metro areas could represent 30-35% of new female hires, and that freshers and first-time workers are increasingly targeted through flexible shifts and proximity-based jobs. Varun Sachdeva, senior vice-president and APAC head at NLB Services, said the festive hiring surge is becoming a strategic avenue for firms to access new talent pools and potentially transition workers into longer-term positions.