Indian firms accelerate festive hiring and aim to keep seasonal staff longer

Employers across India are moving their festive-season recruitment forward, with 69% already active or planning to start hiring by September, according to an Indeed survey. Workforce planning efforts have risen to 66% by August, compared with 40% a year earlier. Over half of respondents expect hiring volumes to grow through 2025, especially for frontline roles such as delivery, warehouse, and production staff.

While finding reliable shift workers remains a challenge, 74% of firms aim to retain at least 10% of seasonal hires after the holiday rush, using extensions or permanent conversions. Hiring growth is also expected in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, though many still focus on metros. Most seasonal positions will be contract or gig-based, but a sizable share of workers value the prospect of longer-term employment and clear pay pathways.