Tier II and Tier III Cities Outpace Metros with 21 per cent Hiring Growth in September

• Tier II & III cities saw a 21 per cent year-on-year hiring surge in September.
• Growth driven by e-commerce, retail, customer support and tourism.
• Overall hiring across India rose 17 per cent YoY and 4 per cent month-on-month.
• Metro hiring up 14 per cent, led by IT, BFSI, and media sectors.

India’s smaller cities are driving job market growth, with Tier II and III locations recording a sharp 21 per cent year-on-year increase in hiring during September — outpacing metro hubs, according to the latest foundit Insights Tracker (fit) released on Monday.

Smaller Cities Lead Hiring Surge

The report said hiring in cities such as Jaipur, Lucknow, Coimbatore, Indore, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Surat, Nagpur, and Chandigarh rose 21 per cent year-on-year.

This growth has been fuelled by e-commerce warehousing, retail expansion, customer support hubs, and festive tourism.

At the same time, overall hiring activity across India grew 17 per cent year-on-year and 4 per cent month-on-month, indicating sustained recruitment beyond the festive season boost.

Tier 2 and 3 cities are no longer waiting on the sidelines of India’s growth story. With rapid digital adoption, rising consumption, and thriving MSMEs, these markets are emerging as strong demand centres for express logistics. What was once metro-led is now being powered by the… pic.twitter.com/CfJOanJpk5

— EICI India (@EICIIndia) October 1, 2025

Festive Demand and Regional Growth

“September’s hiring momentum reflects a powerful combination of festive demand and the structural rise of Tier II and III cities as long-term talent hubs,” said Anupama Bhimrajka, VP, Marketing at foundit.

“While metro markets continue to deliver steady growth, non-metro regions are leading the charge. This shift highlights a decentralised, diverse, and resilient employment landscape, creating opportunities for job seekers and strategic advantages for employers nationwide,” she added.

Metro Markets Maintain Steady Growth

Metro cities — including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata — recorded 14 per cent year-on-year hiring growth, mainly led by IT, BFSI, and Media & Entertainment sectors.

The demand remained strong for professionals in technology, finance, and marketing, the report said.

Sector-Wise Hiring Trends

Across job functions, Sales and Marketing registered the highest festive season growth at 5 per cent, followed by Customer Support and Operations (4 per cent).

Creative and media roles also grew 4 per cent year-on-year, supported by increased campaign and OTT activity, while technology and product roles saw steady 3 per cent growth.

Finance and accounting positions recorded modest increases, aligned with festive loan and credit demand.

The foundit Insights Tracker, formerly known as the Monster Employment Index, is based on monthly analysis of online job postings on the Foundit.in platform.

(With inputs from news agencies)