Formal job creation in India fell by nearly 20 percent year-on-year in October, marking the second consecutive month of decline. Job postings also dropped by 5.6 percent compared to September, according to a new report from global job site Indeed.
The Indeed report tracks real-time hiring activity across India’s formal economy. This decline left overall job postings almost 20 percent lower than in October of the previous year.
Key Sector Declines
Job postings declined in almost three-quarters of sectors over the past three months. The following areas experienced the most significant drops:
| Sector | Decline (Past 3 Months) |
|---|---|
| Banking and Finance | 25.6% |
| Legal | 22.4% |
| Retail | 16.7% |
| Loading and Stocking | 15% |
Growing Sectors
Despite the overall slowdown, some sectors saw increased job postings over the past three months:
- Cleaning and Sanitation: +20%
- Community and Social Service: +17.4%
- Dental: +13.1%
- Nursing: +11.2%
- Food Preparation and Service: +10.3%
- Human Resources: +2.3%
Remote Work Trends
Remote job postings saw an increase in October. Approximately 9.1 percent of all job postings explicitly mentioned ‘work from home’ or ‘work remotely’. This represents a 7.6 percent increase from the same month last year.
Most Common Remote Roles
Remote opportunities are most prevalent in specific fields:
- IT Infrastructure, Operations, and Support: 18.2% of postings (October quarter)
- Community and Social Service: 15.1%
- Industrial Engineering: 14%
Shifts in Remote Work Availability
The share of remote jobs has also changed since last year:
- IT Infrastructure, Operations, and Support: Increased by 4.4 percentage points
- Installation and Maintenance: Increased by 3.4 percentage points
- Veterinary: Declined by 2.5 percentage points
- Community and Social Service: Declined by 1.9 percentage points
Callam Pickering, Indeed’s APAC Senior Economist, stated that shifts in remote work reflect changing employer attitudes and efforts to attract candidates.