India’s e-commerce and healthcare sectors are at the forefront of hiring activities in the first half of FY 2026–27, as per a recent report. The report by TeamLease Services indicates that e-commerce and tech startups lead in hiring demand with a net employment change of 8.9%, followed by healthcare and pharmaceuticals at 7%, and manufacturing, engineering, and infrastructure at 6.6%.
The report forecasts a net employment change of 4.7% for the period, showing an increase from the previous two half-years. It also notes a positive hiring sentiment in India, with 58% of employers planning to expand their workforce during this period.
Digital literacy remains the most sought-after skill at 77%, followed by customer experience management at 68% and communication skills at 61%. The hiring trend is supported by capital expenditure, supply chain realignment, and policy incentives in manufacturing and infrastructure-related sectors.
Large enterprises show the most significant expansion plans, with 74% indicating intentions to grow their workforce, compared to 57% of mid-sized companies and 38% of small businesses. In terms of salary growth, electric vehicle (EV) and EV infrastructure roles are expected to see the highest increase at 10.5%, followed by fintech at 9.9% and healthcare at 9.7%.
Sales and marketing roles lead in hiring intent at 54%, followed by IT at 40% and finance at 39%, reflecting a focus on revenue generation, digital transformation, and compliance. Balasubramanian A, senior Vice-President at TeamLease Services, highlighted that India’s workforce dynamics are evolving due to structural and policy-led changes.
Geographically, major urban centers like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune are witnessing significant employer expansion intent, with Bengaluru leading at 67.9%, followed by Hyderabad at 57.8% and Pune at 56.1%. Mumbai and Chennai are also experiencing steady growth, according to the report.
