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India Talent Insights Report 2024 Ed1

The Randstad India Talent Insights Report 2024 highlights India's robust economic growth, with a GDP of USD 3.73 trillion and a growth rate of 8.2%, driven by diverse sectors and government initiatives. The report analyzes talent trends across six key industries in 29 cities, revealing high demand for skills in BFSI, manufacturing, IT, and healthcare, particularly in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. It emphasizes the importance of skilling and upskilling to leverage the demographic dividend and meet the evolving job market demands.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
152 views77 pages

India Talent Insights Report 2024 Ed1

The Randstad India Talent Insights Report 2024 highlights India's robust economic growth, with a GDP of USD 3.73 trillion and a growth rate of 8.2%, driven by diverse sectors and government initiatives. The report analyzes talent trends across six key industries in 29 cities, revealing high demand for skills in BFSI, manufacturing, IT, and healthcare, particularly in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. It emphasizes the importance of skilling and upskilling to leverage the demographic dividend and meet the evolving job market demands.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 77

randstad india talent

insights report 2024.

partner for talent.


contents.
executive summary 03

about randstad India talent insights report 06

talent and economic growth - an exciting partnership 07

talent insights

industry focus: BFSI 09 industry focus: pharma, healthcare & life-sciences (PHL) 42
• city-wise jobs distribution in BFSI 10 • city-wise jobs distribution in PHL 43
• key talent trends across BFSI skills 16 • key talent trends across PHL skills 49
• future landscape of BFSI talent 19 • future landscape of PHL talent 52

industry focus: manufacturing & automotive 20 industry focus: retail, FMCG & FMCD 53
• city-wise jobs distribution in manufacturing & automotive 21 • city-wise jobs distribution in retail, FMCG & FMCD 54
• key talent trends across manufacturing & automotive skills 27 • key talent trends across retail, FMCG & FMCD skills 60
• future landscape of manufacturing & automotive talent 30 • future landscape of retail, FMCG & FMCD talent 63

industry focus: IT 31 industry focus: energy & utilities 64


• city-wise jobs distribution in IT 32 • city-wise jobs distribution in energy & utilities 65
• key talent trends across IT skills 38 • key talent trends across energy & utilities skills 69
• future landscape of IT talent 41 • future landscape of energy & utilities talent 72

India talent insights report 2024 | 2


bold strokes on the future talent canvas
executive summary.
India confidently strides across 2024 on the back of a unanimous global acknowledgement
and applause over its economic performance. Uncertainties were addressed with resilience,
and opportunities were clinched with boldness and decisiveness.

India's increasing economic diversity and the positive role of government policy has enabled
the country to demonstrate resilience despite many headwinds. Its production-linked
incentive (PLI) schemes across sectors have motivated a surge, both in international
partnerships and domestic entrepreneurship. And the government’s commitment to improve
the ease of doing business has been acknowledged in terms of significant inflow of foreign
investments.

Most important, the seriousness with which the government has catalyzed skilling among the
country’s youth and improving its employability gives tremendous hope that the
demographic dividend will be leveraged for the country’s economic rise.

Looking ahead, it is an exciting meeting point of talent and opportunity. The 2024 India talent
insights report (drawn on Randstad data over a six-month period of September 2023 to
February 2024) analyzes talent trends across a comprehensive range of locations, experience
levels and skills. In this edition, we have focused on six key industries spread over 8 Tier-1
cities and 21 Tier-2 cities across India — Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI),
Manufacturing & Automotive, Information Technology (IT), Pharma, Healthcare & Life
sciences (PHL), retail, FMCG & FMCD, and energy & utilities.

India talent insights report 2024 | 3


key highlights.
Jaipur ranks very strong Ludhiana and Surat,
as a hiring hub for two new entrants in
manufacturing & the tier-2 cities
automotive, BFSI, retail, category, impress Demand for
FMCG & FMCD, IT and with their hiring business operations
PHL; Vadodara dominates demand across all professionals in
in energy & utilities, and industries - and BFSI stands above
manufacturing & especially in BFSI and other skills at all
automotive. retail, FMCG & FMCD. levels.

While Bengaluru Hiring at the junior The role of customer The demand for
dominates the demand level is uniformly service representative production managers
charts across industries high across all six features impressively in the manufacturing
among tier-1 cities, industries in tier-1 among the Top 15 skills & automotive sector
Mumbai (BFSI, energy & and tier-2 cities. in demand across all outpaces all other
utilities), Delhi-NCR levels in the BFSI skills at all levels.
(retail, FMCG & FMCD, sector.
BFSI) and Chennai
(manufacturing &
automotive) have
impressively risen in the
charts too.

India talent insights report 2024 | 4


key highlights.
The roles of service
management and The roles of Natural At every level in the
automation engineer language processing retail, FMCG &
make an impressive debut (NLP) specialists and FMCD industry, the
into the top 10 skills in ethical hackers have demand for fashion
demand for the gained traction in / graphic /
manufacturing & both tier-1 and accessory designers
automotive industry. tier-2 cities. ranks a strong first.

R&D professionals and Hiring of salesforce The roles of the drug Technical engineers
process engineers rank developers rise to analyst, formulation outrank the hiring
within the Top 10 in hiring the top position at scientist, and demand in the energy
demand for the the junior and bioinformatics & utilities sector
manufacturing & senior level hiring professional enter the across all levels in
automotive industry in IT. skills demand list this tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
across all levels. year in the PHL
industry.

India talent insights report 2024 | 5


about randstad India
talent insights report. 8 tier-1 cities

21 tier-2 cities
This edition of the Randstad India Talent Insights Report 2024 dives into the locations
hiring trends of six industries in India — BFSI; manufacturing & automotive;
IT; PHL; retail, FMCG & FMCD; and energy & utilities. It explores and unfolds
insights on both current and emerging talent developments and BFSI
requirements in these industries, which we hope, will enable organizations,
employees and job seekers to be future-ready by leveraging present trends manufacturing & automotive
and extrapolated opportunities. IT

Employers across the six industries will find this report a valuable pointer to PHL
6 key sectors
how they can align their talent acquisition and retention strategies to where retail, FMCG & FMCD
the demand actually lies for hot skills across different experience levels.
energy & utilities
Talent community can leverage the report’s specific insights to discover and
understand the location, skill and experience hotspots —and be prepared to
take advantage of trending opportunities with the right motivation to re-skill
and upskill themselves. junior (0-5 years)
A wide range of data has been collated, crunched, analyzed and curated in middle (6-14 years)
the Randstad India Talent Insights Report 2024. We are optimistic that this experience levels senior (>=15 years)
will help all stakeholders make data-driven decisions to make the best
possible choices of locations of ‘in-demand’ jobs, and skills across
experience levels.

India talent insights report 2024 | 6


talent and economic growth - an
exciting partnership.
It was a great 2023 for the Indian economy, with a GDP of USD 3.73 digitizing of regulatory compliance processes across the business lifecycle
trillion, and a GDP growth rate of 8.2% — placing it on an optimistic path (more than 39,000 compliances were reduced and more than 3,400 legal
to becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by 20271. The sectoral rock stars provisions were decriminalized)2, has tremendously increased India’s ease
in this stellar performance were manufacturing, telecom, of doing business. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (announced in
pharmaceuticals, energy and utilities and banking and financial services the 2023-24 Union Budget), aims to skill youth in Industry 4.0, AI, robotics,
— ably supported by the, IT, infrastructure and real estate industries. mechatronics, IoT and drones. The National Skill Qualification Framework
Additionally, IMF estimates show a significant increase in both Foreign (NSQF) looks to enhance employability by aligning skills and roles based on
Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) inflows in industry demand. The Department of Economic Affairs, in its January 2024
2023 — and this shows the extent to which India is perceived as an review of the economy, shows that in 2024, the percentage of employable
emerging power in the Global South. Plus, the Indian start-up landscape final-year and pre-final-year students improved to 51.3%3.
saw 980 startups raise USD 11 billions of venture capital, and USD 6
The year 2024 promises to be another strong performing year compared to
billion in equity funding in 2023.
other emerging and developed markets — according to the Organisation
The 14 production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes launched by the for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), India will be the
government have caused a major resurgence in the manufacturing fastest growing economy in the world among G20 countries. It has
sector. With plans to extend the scheme to other sectors, it spells good reported the highest net employment outlook (36%), ahead of the US (34%),
opportunities for employment and talent development. Similarly, the China (32%), and the global average (22%)4.

1
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/fy24-gdp-growth-at-8-2-pc-great-news-for-india-panagariya/articleshow/110600169.cms?from=mdr
2
https://www.india-briefing.com/news/indias-economy-in-2023-a-year-end-review-30561.html/
3
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/fresher/indias-employable-youth-up-from-33-9-in-2014-to-51-3-in-2024-dea/articleshow/107233514.cms?from=mdr#
4
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/indian-companies-report-strongest-hiring-outlook-for-jun-quarter-2024-globally-report/article67942500.ece#:~:text=At%2036%20per%20cent%2C%20India,Romania%20(%2D%202%20per%20cent).

India talent insights report 2024 | 7


India’s economic performance - India’s talent canvas -
highlights. highlights.
• GDP of USD 3.73 trillion, GDP growth rate of 8.2% • Highest net employment outlook in the world at 36%
• Significant increase in FDI and FPI inflows - secures • BFSI, consumer retail, healthcare, communications,
the third-highest FDI for new greenfield projects5 GCCs, renewable energy, MSMEs and start-ups to
drive India's job market in 2024
• High performing sectors - manufacturing &
automotive, telecom, pharmaceuticals, energy and • demand for tech talent in manufacturing &
utilities and BFSI automotive, pharmaceuticals, energy & utilities, etc.,
to continue to rise
• Home to 113 unicorns with a combined valuation of
more than $350 billion6. Fintech, ecommerce and • Manufacturing & automotive, BFSI, healthcare, IT and
enterprise tech lead the start-up brigade in 2023 start-ups poised to increase job creation in tier-2
cities
• ‘Ease of doing business’ surges with government’s
initiatives to positively reduce compliance burden - • Global Capability Centers (GCCs) plan to hire 50%
rises to 63rd rank in 2022, according to the World more freshers in 2024 than in 20238
Bank7
• ‘Ease of acquiring talent’ accelerates with
government’s and India Inc.’s initiatives of reskilling
and upskilling

5
https://www.forbesindia.com/article/explainers/fdi-in-india-inflows/89609/1
6
https://inc42.com/features/whats-next-for-indias-unicorn-club-in-2024/#:~:text=India%20is%20now%20home%20to,based%20on%20adjustments%20from%20investors.
7
https://inc42.com/buzz/economic-survey-2022-23-india-reduced-39000-compliances-ease-of-doing-business/
8
https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/workplace-4-0/recruitment/has-fresher-hiring-shifted-to-gccs-from-other-mncs/108087344

India talent insights report 2024 | 8


talent insights.
industry focus – BFSI
For the Indian BFSI industry, 2023 was a positive turning point as it The reasons behind this phenomenal growth are clearly reflected in our
overcame extreme challenges to chart a thriving growth path. Profits findings of this report for the BFSI industry. We see a surge in talent demand,
soared by 38.4%9, driven by remarkable performance of public sector and its patterns across different levels align to the financial inclusion
banks, sustained credit growth, adoption of digital technologies, and demonstrated in the growth of this sector. Additionally, the high demand for
supportive government policies. business operations, investment banking and business analysts across tier-1
and tier-2 cities reflect the growing appetite for financial planning and
Rising income is driving demand for financial services across income
wealth creation across the country.
brackets. A significant outcome of this boom has been rapid progress
in financial inclusion across tier-2 and 3 markets. Today, it is reported
that close to 90% of Indians have accounts with financial institutions10.
Rural areas have seen a definite rise in credit, insurance and
investment penetration.

Technology and digital leads India’s growth in the BFSI sector, and it is
well- positioned to become one of the largest digital markets. It boasts
of more than 2100 fintechs11, and significant cross-utilization of
channels to expand the reach of financial services. Besides, National
Stock Exchange of India (NSE) report shows that, in 2023, there was a
52% growth in the retail investor base from tier-2 and tier-3 cities12.
9
https://bfsi.economictimes.indiatimes.com/blog/resurgence-and-challenges-indian-banks-2024-outlook/106817271
10
https://www.financialexpress.com/market/cafeinvest-the-rise-of-a-new-financial-frontier-tier-2-amp-3-markets-boom-in-india-3426306/#
11
https://www.ibef.org/industry/financial-services-india
12
https://www.financialexpress.com/market/cafeinvest-the-rise-of-a-new-financial-frontier-tier-2-amp-3-markets-boom-in-india-3426306/#

India talent insights report 2024 | 9


city-wise jobs distribution in BFSI.
tier-1 cities
Mumbai ranks first among tier-1 cities in terms of hiring demand at the BFSI in-house solution centers (with heavyweight players such as ANZ, JP
senior level (23.25%), a close second in the junior level (20.16%) and Morgan, AXA, Societe Generale, Swiss Re, Northern Trust, HSBC, and
third in the middle level (18.85%). Goldman Sachs). In fact, three of the largest business parks in Bangalore are
Mumbai is the headquarters for most of India’s public sector banks and home to ~150,000 professionals for global banks. It is also home to several
insurance companies (including eight out of 10 top banks in India and international to local fintech giants, and emerged as the #1 city in total
42% of the top 50 fintech start-ups)13. Plus, it is home to the country’s FinTech funding raised in 202315.
central bank, National Stock Exchange (NSE), Securities and Exchange With a number of reputed higher education institutes, Bengaluru provides
Board of India (SEBI). reassuringly high numbers of high-quality finance and technology talent every year.
The demand for talent at the senior and strategic leadership has thus Delhi-NCR leads the pack of tier-1 cities in its demand for BFSI talent at the
surged, and hence Mumbai has risen to the lead position at this level. The junior level (20.44%). It stands third at the senior level (14.18%), and fourth at
significant number of technology and management institutes in Mumbai the middle level (11.86%).
also provide BFSI organizations a reassuring pipeline of junior talent.
Delhi-NCR’s advantages of strong global connectivity, competitive
Bengaluru retains its first place in its hiring demand across middle infrastructure costs, and availability of talent has attracted many BFSI players
(25.69%). It ranks second at the senior level (19.06%), and third in the to set up their F&A solution centers here. Leading financial services
junior level (19.98%). organizations (such as ABN Amro Bank, Metlife, Ameriprise, Fidelity
With the highest rate number of shared service centers (SSC) in India International, XL Insurance, HSBC, and Steria) have diversified their
(35%)14, Bengaluru has become a very popular destination for global operations and this has led to a healthy demand for talent at all levels.

13
https://www.commercialdesignindia.com /insights/mumbai-emerges-as-the-ideal-fintech-hub-heres-why#:~:text=Mumbai%20is%20the%20headquarters%20for,several%20other%20prestigious%20government%20organisations.
14
https://kpmg.com/uk/en/home/insights/2020/03/future-of-finance-centres-in-india.html
15
https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/indian-fintech-funding-slumps-nearly-two-third-in-2023-will-india-emerge-as-global-fintech-powerhouse-11704444297387.html

India talent insights report 2024 | 10


Pune rises to the second position in hiring demand at the middle level
(19.62%), and ranks fourth, both in junior (13.75%) and senior level
hiring (12.88%).
Pune is home to a fair number of Finance KPOs (SG Analytics, Reval
Analytics, CRISIL, Credit Pointe, Verve, Value Notes, BNY Mellon, and
more). Major BFSI companies (Credit Suisse, Swiss Re, Bank of New
York Mellon, UBS, and Barclays) have also set up their F&A SSCs in
Pune. Additionally, Pune’s robust tech ecosystem has made it a as a
key destination for fintech innovation and collaboration.

Hyderabad and Chennai stand a close fifth and sixth, respectively, at


all levels of hiring demand.
The recently inaugurated BFSI Consortium at Hyderabad marks the
consistent ascent of this tier-1 city as a BFSI strategic and innovation
hub, and Telangana’s rise to become a premier BFSI destination. For
example, Goldman Sachs has significantly expanded its Hyderabad
operations as a ‘centre of excellence' for consumer banking services,
business analytics, and platform engineering. Other major league
players who have set up strategic operations in Hyderabad include JP
Morgan, HSBC, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and ICICI.
Chennai, with about 400 financial industry businesses, is also growing
as a fintech hub, led by both start-ups and large enterprises. The huge
Fintech City project in Chennai is a sure shot catalyst for making it a
leading global destination for fintech firms by 2025.

India talent insights report 2024 | 11


BFSI job distribution
across experience levels.
tier-1 cities Senior level (>=15 years) The highest
demand for
mumbai 23.25
talent across
levels is
Middle level (6-14 years) bengaluru 19.06
interestingly
bengaluru 25.69 delhi-ncr 14.18 spread across
Junior level (0-5 years) three tier-1 cities.
pune 19.62 pune 12.88
Delhi-NCR leads
delhi-ncr 20.44
mumbai 18.85 hyderabad 11.67 in the junior level
mumbai 20.16 hiring, Bengaluru
delhi-ncr 11.86 chennai 11.60 in the middle
bengaluru 19.98 level, and
hyderabad 10.65 ahmedabad 3.72
Mumbai in the
pune 13.75
chennai 8.89 kolkata 3.65 senior level
hyderabad 9.24
kolkata 3.37
chennai 8.61
ahmedabad 1.07
kolkata 4.70

ahmedabad 3.11

* the numbers reported are in percentage

12
tier-2 cities
Jaipur maintains its clean sweep as the leader across all levels — junior Hubs of India’, placed Indore in the list of emerging hubs of future financial
(16.31%), middle (20.70%) and senior (11.67%). technology and business process excellence. With banks and financial
From digital payments to lending, wealth management, and institutions rapidly adopting technology innovation, and with fintechs
cryptocurrencies, fintech companies in Jaipur are transforming the surging in importance, we see the demand for finance technology
world of finance. Backed by its strong economic growth, reputed professionals in this city.
educational institutions, and abundant source of talent, Jaipur’s BFSI New tier-2 entrants Ludhiana and Surat rank impressively among the Top 10
industry’s talent demand is not only strong for today, but is also set to in hiring demand across junior, middle and senior levels.
thrive further in the years to come.
As Punjab's largest city and as one of India’s smart cities, Ludhiana is striding
Thane maintains its second position at the middle level (13.87%) and ahead, beyond its dominance in manufacturing and textiles to the financial
senior level hiring (8.83%), and comes third in the junior level (7.38%). services sector.
Thane has established itself as a dynamic urban hub and an attractive Renowned as the diamond capital of India and another smart city, Surat is
option for investors. As a strategic location in the Mumbai Metropolitan evolving into an attractive business and financial hub. A host of banks and
Region, and with its additional proximity to Pune, Thane has grown to insurance companies offer a wide array of financial products and services,
be a rising power in the financial services and IT industries — offering and this has led to the healthy demand for talent in these two cities.
diverse financial products and services, including banking services,
Kochi has surged ahead and ranks third (from sixth the previous year) in the
loans, insurance, investments, and wealth management. And that is
middle level hiring demand (9.77%) while it continues to be positioned in the
why we see a healthy demand for finance professionals at all levels in
Top 10 at other levels.
this tier-2 city.
As a major financial hub of Kerala, Kochi is home to several banks, insurance
Indore ranks second in junior level hiring demand (9.63%), a close third companies, investment firms, and stockbrokers. Its strategic location and
in the senior level (7.92%), and fourth in the middle level (8.20%). rising economic stature make Kochi an attractive destination for financial
As the commercial capital of central India, Indore has rapidly advanced services companies to expand their operations, and hence the greater need
to be a force in the financial technology space. In fact, NASSCOM’s for reasonably experienced middle level managers.
and Deloitte’s joint report in August 2023 titled ‘Emerging Technology

India talent insights report 2024 | 13


Lucknow stands a very close fourth in hiring demand at the
junior level (7.16%), an equally close fifth in the middle level
(8.01%) and sixth in the senior level (6.92%).
Lucknow is rapidly surging to become a technology and
business hub of India. The state government’s ambitious plans
to set up the largest technology hub16 (comprising an IT Park, a
Business Park and an International Incubation Facility) will have
financial companies as strategic partners, and promises to
promote innovation for the industry. These developments augur
well for job creation at all levels, and hence we see a healthy
demand for talent.

Chandigarh and Coimbatore almost tie with each other for the
fourth and fifth positions, respectively, in senior level hiring
(7.58% and 7.33% respectively). At the junior and middle levels,
they feature among the top 10 in hiring demand.
Chandigarh has seen a rapid surge in the establishment of a
number of foreign accounting companies — making it a finance
and accounting hub. This has created significant employment
opportunities.
Coimbatore’s expansion of infrastructure and connectivity
enhancements, and creation of dynamic ecosystem for startups,
have attracted both domestic and international investors. As a
major banking outlet, Coimbatore offers a large market for
fintech firms — and consequently for hiring of talent.

16
https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/digital-india/yogi-govt-set-to-build-indias-largest-it-hub-in-lucknow/102711790

India talent insights report 2024 | 14


BFSI job distribution
across experience levels. Senior level (>=15 years)

jaipur 11.67
tier-2 cities Middle level (6-14 years) thane 8.83

jaipur 20.70 indore 7.92

Junior level (0-5 years)


thane 13.87 chandigarh 7.58
Surat and
jaipur 16.31
kochi 9.77 coimbatore 7.33 Ludhiana make
indore 9.63
a strong and
indore 8.20 lucknow 6.92 impressive
thane 7.38 entry into the
lucknow 8.01 surat 5.92
Top 10 tier-2
lucknow 7.16
thiruvananthapuram 5.86 vadodara 5.67 cities for BFSI
chandigarh 6.33 talent demand
chandigarh 5.47 ludhiana 5.00
across all levels
kochi 5.96
ludhiana 4.69 kochi 4.92

surat 5.84
coimbatore 3.52
coimbatore 5.16
bhopal 3.13
ludhiana 4.51

bhopal 3.99

* the numbers reported are in percentage

15
key talent trends across BFSI skills.
There is an interesting and significant increase in The role of a business operations specialist in
the average junior level hiring in tier-1 cities over financial services encompasses execution of day
last year (73.31% vs 46.77%). to day tasks related to efficiency, productivity,
and customer experience at the junior level, to
With a strong presence of management institutes,
re-imagining business strategy to improve
and certification in specialized finance courses in
business processes and managing risk at the
tier-1 cities, banks find a good supply of qualified
senior level. This explains the demand at all levels
junior level candidates to train and grow them for
across both tier-1 and tier-2 cities — and also
their specific needs.
offers an attractive career progression
In tier-2 cities, while the average junior level hiring opportunity.
was comparable to the previous year (79.13% vs
Investment banking comes second in the demand
82.02%), there was a perceptible upward shift in
for BFSI skills across all three levels of junior
the average senior level hiring (14.63% vs 8.08%).
(12.13%), middle (16.17%), and senior (11.21%).
There has been an exponential increase in financial
As the specialist skill to raise money for individual
inclusion at the tier-2 and 3 cities level. This has
investors, large corporations and governments,
fueled a tremendous demand for sophisticated
investment bankers are in demand at all levels.
financial services in these regions — especially
Especially at the senior levels, the demand for
with digital platforms opening up access in a big
investment bankers is the highest in Mumbai,
way. This explains the rise in senior level hiring in
Pune, Kolkata and Bengaluru, the most mature
tier-2 cities.
BFSI locations among tier-1 cities.
Demand for business operations professionals
tower strongly above other skills at all levels —
junior (27.82%), middle (21.33%), and senior
(30.87%).

India talent insights report 2024 | 16


The role of the business analyst has shown a significant With customer experience taking centerstage in
rise in rankings. It stands fourth at the junior level hiring the financial services sector, the customer service
(7.08%) and rises to the third position at the middle representative (who works with clients in
(8.45%) and senior levels (7.10%). addressing their queries and issues about
In today’s competitive landscape, business analyst products and services), is an important
skills assume critical importance as they enable touchpoint. Among tier-1 cities, Pune, Mumbai
strategic decisions to be made on analysis of and Delhi-NCR show a higher demand for this
economic trends and market conditions — and skill, and among tier-2 cities, Jaipur, Indore, Kochi
also in providing guidance on investment and Mohali show the same trend.
decisions (for both companies and individual The roles of the claims associate and stockbroker
investors). That is why we find the demand for this also make their maiden entry into the skills demand
skill is high at all levels. list this year.
The roles of the sales professional, branch manager, • With the BFSI sector evolving tremendously in
credit manager, collection manager and business the last couple of years, analysis of claims
development manager assume progressive plays a vital role in compiling and analyzing
importance in the middle and senior levels. claims-associated data, and tracking trends
and patterns to grow business and to minimize
These roles are critical to growth and revenues of
frauds and irregularities.
financial services companies, and call for
seasoned professionals in the middle and senior • Stock brokers, with their deep understanding
levels. All major tier-1 and tier-2 cities this show a of financial markets and investment strategies
healthy demand for these roles. provide investment advice and execute trades
in stocks, bonds, and other securities. At this
Customer service representative features nascent stage of emergence, tier-1 cities seem
impressively among the Top 15 skills in demand to show a higher demand for this skill in the
across all levels. junior level, and tier-2 cities at the middle level.

India talent insights report 2024 | 17


BFSI job distribution
by skills. Senior level (>=15 years)

business operations 30.87


Middle level (6-14 years)
investment banking 11.21
business operations 21.33
Junior level (0-5 years)
business analyst 7.10

business operations 27.82


investment banking 16.17 The roles of
sales professionals 6.05
customer
business analyst 8.45
investment banking 12.13
collection manager 4.86 service
branch manager 7.46 representative,
sales professionals 9.43
branch manager 4.48 claims associate
collection manager 6.18 and stockbroker
business analyst 7.08
business development
manager 3.89 feature in the
credit manager 5.70
relationship manager 6.43
skills portfolio in
customer service
collection manager 4.00
product manager 4.10
representative
3.29 demand for the
BFSI industry
risk analyst 3.51
credit manager 3.55 credit manager 3.21 this year
sales professionals 3.35
business development relationship officer 2.84
manager 3.24
compliance manager 2.84
branch manager 3.12

customer service
representative 2.95

* the numbers reported are in percentage

18
the future talent landscape for BFSI.
On the back of surging growth in the past few by 2025. Digital banking and neobanks will
years, the Indian BFSI sector is preparing for increasingly turn to AI-led innovations, and
dynamic transformation in 2024, driven by embedded finance will gather momentum. The
technology and domain expertise. evolving fintech and regulatory landscape will
usher the regtech segment in a bigger way. This
It is projected that India will have 16.57 lakh high
calls for a talent powerhouse of domain and
net worth individuals (HNWI) by 2028, making it
technology specialists, strategic business
the fourth-largest private wealth market
managers, and niche professionals that have
globally17. This opens tremendous opportunities
emerged in our findings.
for the private wealth management players, and
infusion of specialized talent in this segment. There is thus a compelling need for BFSI
The focus on new business and wealth creation organizations to be future-relevant through
offers newer and exciting opportunities for focused talent development initiatives in hiring,
specialists in this area. It also provides reskilling reskilling and upskilling in the areas of
and growth paths for business operations investment banking, digital operations, data
professionals to rise to customer-centric roles analytics, generative AI, cybersecurity,
with a sales mindset. customer experience technologies, and more.

Innovation and technology will be the signatures That is a vast and promising canvas for talent
of the Indian financial landscape in the near development in the BFSI industry.
future. With an 87% fintech adoption rate, digital
payments in India is poised to touch greater
heights. In its report, ‘Payments Vision 2025’, RBI
talks about tripling digital payment transactions

17
https://www.ibef.org/industry/financial-services-india

India talent insights report 2024 | 19


talent insights.
industry focus – manufacturing & automotive
The year 2023 was monumental for India’s manufacturing & There has also been a big surge in investments, and India’s
automotive industry. The government's "Make in India" initiative, manufacturing and automotive market is expected to reach USD 1
the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, the Bharatmala trillion by 2025-2620. Additionally, major geopolitical development
Pariyojana project, the proposed DESH Bill, and the National shifted the focus to India as a potential destination —especially as
Logistics Policy, have enhanced opportunities and incentivized an alternative to China. And thus, we had Apple redrawing its
various sectors, such as automobiles, electronics, and textiles. manufacturing strategy with India at the core — and other
Currently, the Indian manufacturing industry contributes about companies such as Tesla, Apple, Ford, Coca Cola, Toyota, looking
17% of the nation’s GDP, and is poised to touch 21% in the next six at India as a stable supply chain alternative for key materials,
to seven years18. including semiconductors.
In terms of global rankings in manufacturing output, the Indian Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have led the industry’s
automotive sector is the second largest in two-wheelers, seventh resurgence, and we see this in the talent demand across both
largest in commercial vehicles, sixth largest in passenger vehicles tier-1 and tier-2 cities from these states. From a skills perspective,
and the largest in tractors19. This sector alone contributes about the talent demand has been driven by the requirements of
7.1% to the national GDP, 40% to the global R&D, 4.7% to the Industry 4.0 — and we also see that unfolding in
country’s exports, and employs (directly and indirectly) around 19 our report.
million people. One can clearly see the significance of this sector
in terms of employment generation.

18
https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/manufacturing-sector-expected-to-reach-1-trn-by-2025-26-led-by-gujarat-123121300914_1.html
19
https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2023/feb/doc2023217160601.pdf
20
https://www.business-standard.com/industry/news/manufacturing-sector-expected-to-reach-1-trn-by-2025-26-led-by-gujarat-123121300914_1.html

India talent insights report 2024 | 20


city-wise jobs distribution in manufacturing & automotive.
tier-1 cities
Bengaluru outranks the other tier-1 cities in the hiring demand at the new manufacturing hub for Apple products, in addition to one-third of India's
junior level (25.30%) and middle level (32.19%). In the senior level automobile manufacturing industry, and other units in engineering, textiles,
(22.16%) it closely ties with Chennai for the top rank. leather products, etc. There is thus a good demand for talent at all levels.
Karnataka has risen as a force in the electric vehicle sector, and has Chennai is also home to three of India's 12 major ports, and thus the closest
successfully attracted significant investments across the entire value point of call for major manufacturing nations such as China, Korea, Taiwan,
chain (including manufacture of battery pack and cell, components, Japan & ASEAN countries.
original equipment, and charging and testing infrastructure) — as well
Delhi-NCR ranks second in its demand for manufacturing professionals at the
as towards research and development.
junior level (18.10%), third at the senior level (19.05%), and a close fourth in
Additionally, Bengaluru has established itself as a powerhouse for the middle level (13.92%).
manufacturing, and industrial production, both in the private and
The northern cluster of automotive manufacturing around the Delhi-NCR
public sector — across electronics, telecom, aerospace,
ranks third and contributes 30% of the total production21. The
pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food processing, automobiles, steel,
Gurugram-headquartered Maruti Suzuki has successfully risen in the
and cement. It is thus no surprise that there is a booming demand for
manufacture and sales of the premium Indian SUV market (which is one of
talent in manufacturing and automotive sector here.
the world’s fastest growing).
Chennai jumps to the first place in senior level hiring demand (22.16%), Plus, Delhi-NCR’s manufacturing sector has seen an impressive growth —
second in middle level hiring (14.79%), and third in junior level hiring from auto components to pharmaceuticals, textiles and FMCG. With
(16.05%). investment plans of INR 11,000 crore in five years22 to develop the region as a
Tamil Nadu has the largest number of factories in India, and its capital design and manufacturing hub for electronic products, the demand for
Chennai ranks as the largest industrial center of South India. It houses the talent is set to grow further.

21
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_India
22
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/106828073.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

India talent insights report 2024 | 21


Pune maintains a steady rank at all levels in The Telangana government’s ambitious plans to
hiring demand for the manufacturing & make the state the hub for electric vehicle
automotive sector — a close third in the middle manufacturing, innovation and research in the
level (14.26%), fourth in the junior level (14.06%) country has given rise to a flurry of activities for
and fifth in the senior level (11.03%). EV vehicle and component manufacturing.
As the largest auto hub in India with more than Hyderabad also produces one-third of global
4000 manufacturing and ancillary units in vaccines and two-fifths of domestic
Pimpri-Chinchwad region alone, Pune holds a pharmaceuticals24, besides aerospace and
substantive share in India’s output of motor defense, and electronics system design and
vehicles (20%), and parts and accessories manufacturing (ESDM).
(21%)23. Additionally, Pune’s industrial A recent study25 revealed that Maharashtra has
ecosystem was redefined in 2023 with the one of the most comprehensive EV policies in
strong emergence of defence manufacturing India — covering targets, budget allocations,
players in the small and medium scale manufacturing and job creation. Also, the
categories. Mumbai-Aurangabad corridor is home to quite a
Pune’s consistent rise in manufacturing in the few IT, pharmaceuticals, textiles and consumer
automotive, consumer durable and engineering durable units. There is thus a steady demand for
sectors make it an attractive talent magnet for multi-disciplinary talent in the manufacturing &
all levels. automotive industry.

Hyderabad and Mumbai rank between fourth


and sixth positions in hiring demand at different
levels.

23
https://www.midcindia.org/focus-sectors/automobiles/
24
https://www.investindia.gov.in/great-places-for-manufacturing-in-india#:~:text=Tamil%20Nadu%20is%20the%20state,commercial%20center%20of%20South%20India.
25
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-among-states-with-most-comprehensive-ev-policies-in-india-study/articleshow/97995108.cms

India talent insights report 2024 | 22


manufacturing & automotive job distribution
across experience levels.
tier-1 cities Senior level (>=15 years)

chennai 22.16

Middle level (6-14 years) bengaluru 22.11

delhi-ncr 19.05
Chennai
bengaluru 32.19
Junior level (0-5 years) shows a
chennai 14.79 hyderabad 12.34 significant
bengaluru 25.30 rise in
pune 14.26 pune 11.03
rankings
delhi-ncr 18.10
delhi-ncr 13.92 mumbai 6.82 across all
chennai 16.05 levels
hyderabad 10.06 kolkata 4.69
pune 14.06
mumbai 9.97 ahmedabad 1.80
mumbai 10.57
kolkata 3.08
hyderabad 9.03
ahmedabad 1.74
kolkata 4.33

ahmedabad 2.58

* the numbers reported are in percentage

23
tier-2 cities
Jaipur makes an impressive leap to the first place in junior (15.00%) Coimbatore is placed second in junior level hiring demand (12.40%), and
and senior level hiring (27.42%). In the middle level, it stands fourth third in the middle level (12.46%).
(10.92%).
Traditionally strong in textiles and textile machinery, motors and pumps, and
Jaipur’s efforts to build its manufacturing industry has paid rich engineering products, Coimbatore has moved strategically to defence
dividends in the fields of minerals, petrochemicals, textiles, automotive manufacturing and clean energy, thanks to the government’s Atmanirbhar
and electronics. The inauguration of Tata Motor's vehicle scrapping Bharat initiatives. Its Special Economic Zones (SEZ) are now attracting a host
facility in Jaipur in early 2023 could well pave the way for India to of manufacturers of automobile, and heavy equipment components, EVs,
become a scrapping hub for the whole of South East Asia. electrical and electronic spares, Chips, LEDs, generators, semiconductors,
Into the future, the state industries department’s efforts to develop a valves and more. Its efforts to expand its infrastructure have attracted
solar module and cell manufacturing hub could generate large-scale domestic and international investors, and this has had a positive impact on
employment and economic opportunities. job creation.
Additionally, it has built a dynamic startup ecosystem of incubators,
Vadodara ranks first in the middle level hiring segment (21.16%), second in
accelerators, and business-academia collaboration to nurture a culture of
senior level hiring (20.16%) and third in junior level demand (11.51%).
innovation and entrepreneurship.
Vadodara’s strength in the manufacturing & automotive strength lies in
its power transmission and distribution equipment manufacturing, Thane ranks second in middle level hiring demand (15.17%), fourth in junior level
besides significant presence in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals, (9.31%) and a very close fifth in senior level (6.05%).
engineering and automobile sectors. The German industrial leader
Thane has consistently grown as an industrial hub, and is the third most
Schaeffler’s new manufacturing unit, inaugurated in June 2023, is
industrialized city in Maharashtra. It has more than 18000 industries, and is a
expected to cater to the growing demand in the wind, heavy
hotspot for employment.
industries, and railway sectors — and generate employment
opportunities.
Vadodara’s excellent infrastructure and talent availability from reputed
educational institutions makes it a favorite with organizations — which,
in turn, creates demand for talent.

India talent insights report 2024 | 24


Indore ranks an impressive third in senior level hiring demand (7.66%)
and features among the Top 10 at the junior and middle levels.
Indore has diverse industrial landscape, comprising the textile,
automobile and steel sectors. Specifically, the tool and die steel sector
supports the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries.
Pithampur (a suburb of Indore) is one of the largest automobile hubs in
India, and houses NATRAX, a state-of-the-art automotive testing and
certification center. We thus see a diverse talent demand for talent in
the manufacturing & automotive sector in Indore.

Ludhiana and Surat are new entrants to tier-2 cities rank impressively
among the Top 10 in hiring demand across junior, middle and senior
levels.
Ludhiana, ranked tenth in middle level hiring, ties for the fifth spot in
senior level hiring.
Surat, which has expanded its manufacturing capabilities to new areas
like petrochemicals, steel and pharmaceuticals, stands within the Top
15 across all levels.
Both the cities thus show a promising demand for core skills in the
areas of production, quality, supply chain and logistics.

Nashik, Chandigarh, Kochi, Lucknow and Goa are among the Top 10
tier-2 locations in different levels of hiring, and we will see more of
them in the years to come.

India talent insights report 2024 | 25


manufacturing & automotive
Jaipur jumps
job distribution across experience levels. Senior level (>=15 years)
up the
jaipur 27.42
tier-2 cities
rankings to
claim the top
Middle level (6-14 years) vadodara 20.16
spot in junior
vadodara 21.16 indore 7.66 and senior
Junior level (0-5 years) level hiring
thane 15.17 chandigarh 6.45

jaipur 15.00 thane 6.05


coimbatore 12.46

coimbatore 12.40 ludhiana 6.05


jaipur 10.92

vadodara 11.51 nashik 5.65


chandigarh 5.89

thane 9.31 lucknow 5.24


nashik 4.44
Surat and
indore 6.74
lucknow 3.29 coimbatore 3.63 Ludhiana make
a strong and
nashik 5.79 goa 3.23
indore 3.19 impressive
chandigarh 5.74 entry into the
kochi 3.19
Top 10 tier-2
kochi 5.67 cities for
ludhiana 3.00
manufacturing
lucknow 4.14
& automotive
goa 3.69 talent demand
* the numbers reported are in percentage
across all levels

26
key talent trends across manufacturing
& automotive skills.
There is a big increase in the average junior level Supply chain/logistics professionals come second
hiring in tier-1 cities over last year. in the demand for skills in the manufacturing and
automotive sector across the junior (17.94%) and
With a tremendous number of engineering
middle level hiring (14.71%). In the senior level, it
institutions in tier-1 cities, plus the fact that skill
comes fourth (11.63%).
gap is compelling, manufacturing and automotive
companies have gone on the path of reskilling and Coordination and management of the flow of
upskilling. We thus see more professionals hired at goods and services from the beginning of the
the junior level and trained for specific industry production process through delivery to the
requirements. consumer (involving procurement, production,
storing, maintenance and distribution) is
The demand for production managers ranks way absolutely critical in the manufacturing &
above other skills at all levels — junior (26.13%), automotive industry.
middle (34.75%), and senior (29.55%).
All tier-1 cities show a strong demand for supply
Responsible for ensuring that production is chain/logistics professionals. Jaipur, Coimbatore,
time-bound, within budget and of the highest Chandigarh, Mohali and Indore, among tier-2
quality, the production manager is critical for cities, have a healthy demand for supply chain
manufacturing and automotive companies. Across and logistics professionals.
tier-1 and tier-2 cities where there is a strong
manufacturing and automotive presence, this
ranks as the #1 skill in demand.

India talent insights report 2024 | 27


Operations management stands third in both the middle level (11.46%) and Design engineers see a good demand in the junior level (ranked third —
senior level hiring (13.97%), and fourth in junior level (11.56%). 12.17%). At the middle (10.67%) and senior levels (7.97%), they are ranked fifth.
A vital skill in the manufacturing & automotive industry, operations The rapid rise in demand of different types of vehicles has created the need
management coordinates the production processes to maximize productivity, for design engineers to research, design and create vehicles and vehicle
minimize costs, and to ensure the highest standards of quality and parts. At higher levels, they could take additional responsibility for
performance. engineering of materials, graphic design and product ergonomics.
In tier-1 cities, the demand is strong in Chennai (due to the large number of With a plethora of automotive and manufacturing organizations across
automobile and auto component plants, and industrial units), Hyderabad (with industries, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad Pune, Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru
its pharmaceuticals, electronics, automobiles, aerospace, and food and among tier-1 cities — and Jaipur, Coimbatore, Vadodara, and
beverages plants), and Mumbai (with many chemicals, pharma, textile, Thiruvananthapuram among tier-2 cities —show a steady demand for this skill.
consumer goods, and automotive plants). Among tier-2 cities, the demand is
highest in Chandigarh (chemicals, packaging, plastic injection molding Service management professionals and automation engineers enter the
factories), Indore (computer equipment, foundries, machine shops, and food ‘skills-in-demand’ list for the first time — and feature among the Top 10 in the
manufacturing plants) and Bhopal (manufacture of engineering and agricultural junior and middle levels.
equipment, textile, automobile components, and food processing). As customer experience pervades the manufacturing & automotive industry,
service management is a ‘must-have’ and ‘in-demand’ skill. And with
The demand for quality manager ranks second in senior level hiring (16.23%),
automation of systems and processes (using robotics, PLCs, and IoT
fourth in the middle level (10.68%), and fifth in the junior level (10.35%).
technologies) to enhance efficiency, quality, and safety becoming very
Quality management today calls for implementation of Industry 4.0 important, the automation engineer’s role is gaining good traction in both
technologies and practices. This requires senior managers with deep tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
understanding of the manufacturing processes, tech savviness, and the agility
to overcome challenges on the go. That is why there is a progression to higher With innovation and introduction of new products becoming a must for the
demand at the senior levels. manufacturing and automotive industry, we see a good demand for R&D
professionals and process engineers (they rank within the Top 10 across
All tier-1 and tier-2 cities with a strong automotive and industrial base show a
all levels).
consistent demand for quality managers at the middle and senior levels.

India talent insights report 2024 | 28


manufacturing & automotive
job distribution by skills. Senior level (>=15 years)

production manager 29.55

Middle level (6-14 years) quality manager 16.23

production manager 34.75 operations management 13.97


Junior level (0-5 years) The roles of
supply chain/logistics 14.71 supply chain/logistics 11.63 service
production manager 26.13
management
operations management 11.46 design engineer 7.97 and automation
supply chain/logistics 17.94
engineer make
quality manager 10.68 process engineer 4.90
design engineer 12.17 an impressive
design engineer 10.67 plant/factory manager 4.62 entry into the
operations management 11.56
top 10 skills in
process engineer 5.64 service management 4.06
quality manager 10.35 demand for the
r&d 3.04 manufacturing
service management 5.39
service management 6.54
& automotive
process engineer 5.83
plant/factory manager 2.15 quality engineer 1.07 industry

automation engineer 1.71


r&d 3.29

r&d 1.12
automation engineer 1.85

plant/factory manager 1.18

* the numbers reported are in percentage

29
the future talent landscape for
manufacturing & automotive.
The targets for the manufacturing & automotive industry are exciting To overcome the challenge of skill shortage, the manufacturing
and ambitious26, such as industry will need to strategically partner with educational
• A 15% year-on-year increase in hiring in 2024, over the current 35.6 institutions — and play an active role in developing an
million people employed industry-relevant curriculum with hands-on experience through
• Increase the GDP share to 21% in the next six to seven years internships and sponsoring of research projects. This will enhance
• Touch USD 1 trillion in export of goods by 2030 the employability of juniors entering the workforce, chart the course
• Double the auto industry size to INR 15 lakh crores by end of 202427 of a satisfying career in manufacturing — while enabling the industry
to achieve its goals.
As the world's fourth largest, the Indian automotive industry is
expected to be worth USD 1 trillion by 203528— including USD Amidst this landscape, there is a silver lining that is heartening to
400-billion-plus from design, development and other technology note. Hiring intent has surged from 25% in 2022-23 to 35% in 2023-24
areas. Plus, Industry 4.0 has driven a transformative shift in the — with the automotive industry alone showing a 20% surge in hiring
manufacturing and automotive industry, which in turn, has created an intent in anticipation of increased demand. This is indicative of the
unprecedented demand for professionals proficient in artificial confidence and resilience of the Indian manufacturing industry as it
intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and industrial automation. strides forward to an era of growth. We are confident that the talent
insights in this report will provide the right fillip.
Research and development is another area that offers promising
opportunities — especially with India’s strength in setting up global
capability centers (GCC). We expect that research-driven
professionals will be in high demand in the next few years.

26
https://taggd.in/blogs/crafting-the-workforce-of-tomorrow-manufacturing-hiring-trends-unveiled-for-2024/
27
https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2023/feb/doc2023217160601.pdf
28
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/auto/auto-news/indias-automotive-industry-to-be-worth-1-trillion-by-2035-report/articleshow/104168476.cms?from=mdr

India talent insights report 2024 | 30


talent insights.
industry focus – IT
India's technology industry surged past the USD 250 billion mark in The outlook for the years ahead is optimistic, and the Indian IT industry is
202331 despite macroeconomic headwinds and geopolitical strife that projected to grow to USD 350 billion revenues by 2030, and double
beset the world through the year. This was an addition of USD 9.3 employment opportunities in the next 10 years35. As the findings of this
billion in revenue across IT services, business process management, report shows, opportunities abound in the areas of AI, ML, digital and
hardware, software products, and engineering services. There was a automation technologies, Cloud, data and analytics, software engineering,
big increase in size of deals, with nearly 70% of the deals won being and cybersecurity.
large ones32. There was also a significant rise of not only the number
global capability centers (GCCs), but also in the scope and value of
work executed in the areas of R&D and innovation.
A NASSCOM report pegged the workforce strength of the Indian IT
industry at 5.43 million, with a net hiring of 60,000 for FY2433. What is
heartening to note is the fact that currently 11-15% of India’s tech talent
resides in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, according to a report by NASSCOM
and Deloitte34. These emerging cities are witnessing a surge in digitally
skilled workforce and the findings in our report corroborate this point.

29
https://taggd.in/blogs/crafting-the-workforce-of-tomorrow-manufacturing-hiring-trends-unveiled-for-2024/
30
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/hr-policies-trends/hiring-activity-set-to-gain-pace-in-2024-taggd-india-report/articleshow/106113852.cms?from=mdr
31
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/tech-industry-revenue-to-touch-254-billion-this-fiscal-nasscom/articleshow/107754547.cms?from=mdr
32
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/tech-industry-revenue-to-touch-254-billion-this-fiscal-nasscom/articleshow/107754547.cms?from=mdr
33
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-tech-sector-growth-rate-seen-halving-38-fy24-nasscom-2024-02-16/
34
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/tier-2-and-3-cities-emerge-as-talent-hubs-nasscom-report/article67248724.ece
35
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/indian-it-industry-expected-to-grow-to-350-bn-by-2030-to-double-employment/article67587567.ece

India talent insights report 2024 | 31


city-wise jobs distribution in IT.
tier-1 cities
Bengaluru maintains its No.1 position in hiring demand among tier-1 Hyderabad registers a big jump to second place in its hiring demand across
cities, across all levels — junior (27.09%), middle levels (33.90%) and junior (17.75%) and middle levels (19.48%) and to a strong third in the senior
senior (28.45%). level (15.10%).
Bengaluru’s march has expanded beyond being India’s IT capital to Hyderabad spearheads Telangana’s explosive growth in the IT industry —
being the high-tech and innovation capital, straddling across science, against the national IT exports growth of 9.36% for 2022-23, the state
biotechnology, avionics, space, and startups. It is home to more than registered a phenomenal figure of 31.44%39. The state’s share of India’s new
400 Fortune 500 companies, 450 research laboratories, and a unique IT jobs stood at a staggering 44%. With opportunities arising from the
and diverse a concentration of talent36. The city stands eighth in the expansion of Global Capability Centers (GCCs), Hyderabad is also witnessing
Global Startup Ecosystem Index, and hosts 40% of the global an inflow of talent from other major cities40.
capability centers in India37. Plus, Karnataka (of which Bengaluru is the A LinkedIn study shows that Hyderabad’s top factors attracting talent are
capital) houses more than 14,000 start-ups and 40 unicorns38. The compensation and benefits, for internal career advancement opportunities,
huge demand and opportunities for talent is therefore not surprising. healthy work-life balance, opportunities to acquire new skills, job security
The state government’s initiative of setting up a Skill Advisory and flexible work arrangements41.
Committee for emerging technologies to bridge the skills gap is a
further boost for employment opportunities.

36
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/consolidate-bengaluru-s-position-as-an-epicentre-of-global-innovation-2702127
37
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/105609980.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
38
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/105609980.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
39
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/telangana-it-exports-hyderabad-ktr-8647122/
40
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/from-brain-drain-to-gain-how-hi-tech-hyderabad-has-now-become-talent-attractor/articleshow/103052291.cms?from=mdr
41
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/from-brain-drain-to-gain-how-hi-tech-hyderabad-has-now-become-talent-attractor/articleshow/103052291.cms?from=mdr

India talent insights report 2024 | 32


Delhi-NCR ranks second in senior level hiring (16.75%), and third at Chennai stands fourth in junior level hiring (11.09%), and fifth in the
the junior (17.45%), and middle level (12.79%). middle (10.09%) and senior (9.38%) levels.
GCCs have rapidly transformed the Delhi-NCR IT/ITES scene from Chennai’s IT industry encompasses a wide range of businesses, from
just process hubs to centers of innovation. It ranks among the top tech giants to innovative startups. It is a compelling blend of modern
three captive destinations in India IT/ITeS, and consulting infrastructure, talent availability and business-friendly policies, and
companies. It is also a top-ranked start-up destination and a this attracts major global IT companies — which, in turn, offers good
preferred choice in the consumer and digitech space. Additionally, it employment opportunities.
offers seamless connectivity and world-class infrastructure facilities
that make it a prime destination for global investors. As the icing on
the cake, Delhi-NCR has a very strong science, engineering,
technology and management educational ecosystem.

Pune ranks fourth in the middle (10.70%) and senior level hiring
(13.67%) — and fifth in the junior level (10.14%).
Pune’s dedicated IT parks and zones (Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park,
Baner, EON Free Zone, and Magarpatta City) offer state-of-the-art
infrastructure tailored for the needs of IT/ITES companies and GCCs.
This tier-1 city has created a thriving and collaborative IT ecosystem
with modern facilities.
Pune has enabled an extremely symbiotic relationship between
industry and academia (which comprise prestigious engineering and
management colleges), that has built a large and versatile IT talent
pool. This has created a positive reinforcement of talent attracting
companies, and vice versa.

India talent insights report 2024 | 33


IT job distribution
across experience levels.
tier-1 cities Senior level (>=15 years)

bengaluru 28.45

Middle level (6-14 years) delhi-ncr 16.75


The ‘March of
bengaluru 33.90 hyderabad 15.10 the Global
Junior level (0-5 years) Capability
hyderabad 19.48 pune 13.67 Centers
bengaluru 27.09 Brigade’ has
delhi-ncr 12.79 chennai 9.38
boosted
hyderabad 17.75
pune 10.70 mumbai 9.38 demand in
delhi-ncr 17.45 most tier-
chennai 10.09 ahmedabad 4.40
1 cities
chennai 11.09
mumbai 9.08 kolkata 2.88
pune 10.14
kolkata 3.19
mumbai 9.46
ahmedabad 0.79
kolkata 4.37

ahmedabad 2.65

* the numbers reported are in percentage

34
tier-2 cities
Jaipur takes the top slot in junior level (18.18%) and senior level hiring Indore’s excellent infrastructure, renowned educational institutions that
(20.78%) — and the third position in middle level hiring (9.76%). provide a qualified talent pool, government initiatives and incentives to
Jaipur has rapidly consolidated its growth as an IT hub through rapid promote the IT industry, and its thriving start-up ecosystem has made this
expansion of its start-up and technology companies, positive tier-2 city a strong magnet for investors, IT companies and job aspirants.
government initiatives and investments (such as the Rajiv Gandhi Kochi ranks a very strong first in the middle level hiring (21.10%) and a close
Knowledge Service and Innovation Hubs), and significant support from fifth in the senior level (8.13%). Thiruvananthapuram stood fourth in senior
the Software Technology Parks of India, Jaipur. These have attracted level hiring (8.58%) and among the Top 10 in the junior and middle levels.
domestic and international companies, resulting in job creation and
IT companies in Kerala registered a remarkable growth in 2023. Export
economic growth.
revenues from the IT parks in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode have
The companies that are housed in Jaipur deliver expert and niche
boomed, and the government has announced plans to establish 20 smaller IT
solutions and services (application development, software platforms,
parks based on 5G technology. The Kerala Fiber Optic Network (K-FON)
engineering services, data analytics, geographic data, cloud,
initiative aims to deliver consistent, affordable and high-speed internet
blockchain, artificial intelligence, etc.), and this explains the healthy
access, and will further boost the state’s infrastructure strength. Little
demand for talent at all levels.
wonder that the number of IT professionals in Kerala has grown from by 31%
Indore stands second in the middle (10.17%) and senior level (17.07%) between 2016 and 202343 - and promises greater opportunities in the future.
hiring position — and a close third in junior level hiring (11.98%).
From being India's cleanest city for six years in a row, Indore has
purposefully shaped up to become India's major IT hub. With four IT
Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Indore has consistently chalked up
impressive growth of software exports. Its proposed new tech park is
estimated to house another 50 companies42.

42
https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/technology/madhya-pradesh-to-house-50-technology-companies-in-indore-it-park/100048838
43
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/106518840.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

India talent insights report 2024 | 35


Chandigarh has moved ahead to the third position in senior level hiring (10.48%),
and stands a steady fourth in the junior (7.85%), and middle levels (8.53%).
With a good mix of startups and reputed companies, the IT industry in Chandigarh
has shown a steady upward surge to become a thriving hub of innovation. The IT
parks in Chandigarh with state of art infrastructure, modern offices, high internet
connectivity house a diverse array of tech giants, and have attracted top talent in
the industry. Chandigarh along with its satellite tier-2 cities Mohali (which ranks
among the Top 10 in the junior and middle level hiring) and Panchkula, is home to
quite a few technology parks — the Rajiv Gandhi Information Technology Park,
Quark City, and Panchkula IT Park.

Surat and Ludhiana make an impressive debut in rankings among the tier-2 cities
for IT talent demand. Surat features in the Top 10 list for junior hiring and
Ludhiana ranks a strong seventh in senior hiring.
Surat has emerged as an impressive hub for SaaS startups, which have raised
impressive funding, showing growing investor confidence in Surat's SaaS
ecosystem.
Ludhiana has a vibrant community of technology companies, startups,
entrepreneurs, and skilled IT professionals. Its strategic location, supportive
business environment, access to infrastructure and talent, and strong industrial
base have resulted in the emergence of a robust IT sector.

Coimbatore, Lucknow, Vadodara, Nagpur, Mysore and Nashik feature in the Top
10 rankings in the hiring demand at different levels.

India talent insights report 2024 | 36


IT job distribution Surat and
Ludhiana
across experience levels. Senior level (>=15 years)
make an
jaipur 20.78
tier-2 cities
impressive
entry among
Middle level (6-14 years) indore 17.07
the tier-2
kochi 21.10 chandigarh 10.48 cities for IT
Junior level (0-5 years) talent
indore 10.17 thiruvananthapuram 8.58
demand
jaipur 18.18
jaipur 9.76 kochi 8.13

kochi 12.99
chandigarh 8.53 coimbatore 3.70

indore 11.98
coimbatore 8.15 ludhiana 3.16

chandigarh 7.85
thiruvananthapuram 7.13 lucknow 2.89

mohali 5.04
mohali 5.14 nagpur 2.62
Surat features
coimbatore 4.38
nashik 2.35
in the Top 10
vadodara 3.87
list for junior
lucknow 3.71
mysore 3.70 hiring and
thiruvananthapuram 3.60 Ludhiana ranks
nagpur 3.36
a strong
vadodara 3.18 seventh in
senior hiring
surat 2.91

* the numbers reported are in percentage

37
key talent trends across IT skills.
Although we see a healthy average junior level The demand for salesforce developer ranks
hiring in tier-1 and tier-2 cities (73.16% and 87.38%, uniformly high across all levels in almost all tier-1
respectively), this is a slight dip over the last year (specifically, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Ahmedabad
(77.65% and 88.63%, respectively). and Kolkata) and tier-2 cities (specifically, Jaipur,
Chandigarh, Lucknow, Nagpur and Bhopal).
While the IT industry continues with its strong intent
Further, upskilling in Salesforce development
to hire freshers and juniors across both tier-1 and
leads to upward mobility as development
tier-2 cities, it is also rapidly evolving to technological
consultants, integration engineers, and CRM
innovations and transformation, advanced analytics,
developers, to name a few.
AI, ML and blockchain. This calls for experienced
professionals in emerging technologies, leading to The demand for Java developers is the highest in
this slight shift — which is also reflected in the the middle level hiring (9.85%). It stands second
emergence of skill requirements such as salesforce at the junior level (6.99%), and third at the senior
developers, NLP (natural language processing) level (5.53%).
professionals and ethical hackers.
As the prime and default programming language
Hiring of Salesforce developers zoomed to the top for the software development tool ecosystem and
position at the junior (12.57%) and senior level for developing android apps, the demand for Java
hiring (16.03%) — and ranks second at the middle professionals continue to be high across levels.
level (6.96%). Especially in the IT leader locations, Java skills
lead the demand race. In tier-1 cities, it comes first
Salesforce development elevates the role and
across all levels in Pune, in the junior and middle
capabilities of the full-stack developer with the
level in Bangalore, and at mid-levels in Chennai
Salesforce platform's customer and system-facing
and Hyderabad. In tier-2 cities, it ranks first in the
components — and this makes the Salesforce
senior level in Coimbatore, in the middle level in
developer a critical cog in helping businesses to
Kochi, and in both the middle and senior levels in
effectively engage with clients in a rapidly
Thiruvananthapuram.
changing business environment.
India talent insights report 2024 | 38
Animation and graphics professionals surge ahead to the second position at the We see some interesting distribution of Top 5 skill demands and hiring trends
senior level (8.81%) and third at the junior level (4.75%). at in the senior levels in tier-1 cities
In today’s era of digital strategy and marketing, animation and graphics • Front-end professionals in Kolkata and Delhi-NCR
specialists are in demand due to their critical skill creating exceptional • Hardware engineers in Ahmedabad and Mumbai
interactions with customers. Kolkata and Delhi-NCR show a strong demand for • Networking professionals in Chennai
this skill at the junior and senior levels among tier-1 cities — while in Jaipur, • SAP professionals in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai
Vadodara, Indore and Lucknow among tier-2 cities, the demand is the highest
The roles of NLP specialists and ethical hackers have gained traction in both
at the junior and middle levels.
tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
The demand for Agile and project management specialists continues this year With the rise of chatbots, virtual assistants, and sentiment analysis, NLP skills
too, and ranks a steady fourth across all levels — junior (4.47%), middle (6.62%), are in demand for processing and analyzing human language data — and
and senior (4.93%). enhance brand performance and customer satisfaction.
With its focus on continued evolution and collaboration, this critical Ethical hacking is a critical aspect of cybersecurity models to protect and
methodology enables organizations with speedy go-to-market deadlines, and secure data and information. With cybersecurity taking centerstage in the IT
provides the much-needed flexibility to address shifting priorities and industry, ethical hackers (also known as 'white hat hackers'), are employed to
stakeholder engagement. That is why it finds a place among the Top 5 skills in legally break into computers and networks to test an organization's overall
demand across all levels in all tier-1 locations and at the senior level in the more security.
developed IT hubs in tier-2 cities (Jaipur, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Mohali,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bhopal).

The demand for software engineers continues at the junior (3.78%) and middle
levels (4.36%).
Software engineering skills enable businesses to automate manual tasks,
generate revenues from new market opportunities, speedily scale operations,
and enhance customer engagement. It is a measure of the ubiquitous nature of
this skill that it provides good opportunities at the junior and middle levels in
tier-1 cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai.

India talent insights report 2024 | 39


IT job distribution by skills. For the first
Senior level (>=15 years) time, the role
of Salesforce
salesforce developer 16.03
developers
Middle level (6-14 years) animation &
makes an
graphics professionals 8.81 entry into the
Junior level (0-5 years) java developer 9.85 skills portfolio
java developer 5.53
salesforce developer 12.57
in demand for
salesforce developer 6.96
agile & the IT industry
java developer 6.99 sap professionals 6.83 project management 4.93

animation & agile & front end developer 3.91


graphics professionals 4.75 project management 6.62
hardware engineer 3.64
agile & software engineer 4.36
project management 4.47
database administrator 3.60
cloud architect /
hardware engineer 3.85
computing 3.84 windows specialist 3.53

software engineer 3.78 The demand for


hardware engineer 3.74 networking professionals 3.42
NLP specialists
database administrator 3.67 and ethical
database administrator 3.72 cloud architect/computing 2.92
hackers has
data scientist 3.27
data scientist 3.61
increased in
sap professionals 3.14
networking professionals 2.82
both tier-1 and
tier-2 cities
java developer script 3.08

* the numbers reported are in percentage

40
the future talent landscape for IT.
There is a distinct paradigm shift in India’s technology talent landscape transformation journey. Our report thus shows the rise in demand for
as the IT/ITES industry veers towards innovation, adaptation, and functional consultants, business analysts, and big data engineers,
collaboration. As our talent insights report reveals a huge array of among others.
diverse skills have exploded across the talent canvas — some in big The growing threat of cyber breaches call for skilled cybersecurity
numbers and others not so big in numbers today, but holding the specialists who are proficient in threat detection and predictive risk
promise of surging in the future. With technology-led innovation management. The skills of the information security professional will be
driving almost every industry, the IT sector presents limitless in increasing demand — the emergence of the role of the ethical
opportunities for professionals, aspirants and organizations in a hacker in this year’s report in a case in point.
digital-first world.
According to NASSCOM, the demand-supply gap in technology talent
India's tech prowess demand for skilled professionals has stepped up in India is the lowest in the world at 21.1%44. With IT players registering
beyond established IT services leaders to its booming ecosystem of new wins and improving the number of multi-year renewals with
technology-led startups that drive disruption across industries. existing clients, overall hiring in the IT industry is projected to increase
Additionally, India has also become a strategic hub for global by 12-15%45 in 2024. The Indian IT industry’s enhanced focus on
operations, resulting in a big expansion of Global Capability learning, skilling and reskilling is highly encouraging — and along with
Centers (GCC). the fact that there is an annual supply of 2.14 million STEM graduates a
Into 2024, this diverse expansion in the IT industry will call for core and year46, this is encouraging for the future of tech talent in India. The
nuanced skills in data science and analytics, cloud computing, Indian IT industry must continue with and accelerate its holistic talent
cybersecurity, AI/ML, Gen AI, and robotic process automation (RPA). development strategy, with a purposeful approach to reskilling,
There will also be an increasing demand for domain-driven tech talent cross-skilling and upskilling - and, more importantly, to drawing up
(IoT, embedded systems, automation) from non-tech industries (such customized location strategies for accessing and attracting the
as manufacturing, energy, retail, and PHL), in their digital right talent.

44
https://nasscom.in/knowledge-center/publications/indias-tech-industry-talent-demand-supply-analysis
45
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/information-tech/hiring-in-indian-it-sector-likely-to-see-8-10-growth-in-2024-report/articleshow/106316064.cms?from=mdr
46
https://nasscom.in/knowledge-center/publications/indias-tech-industry-talent-demand-supply-analysis

India talent insights report 2024 | 41


talent insights.
industry focus – pharma, healthcare & life sciences (PHL)
The Indian PHL industry maintained a strong and healthy growth in Digital technologies, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine
2023 to reach USD 372 billion47. Led by positive actions from both the learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) have encompassed major areas of the
private sector and government, this industry has spread its wings to PHL industry. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies, startups, academia,
contribute more than 20% of the global generics supply by volume and and clinical researchers are now focused on disruptive and value-driven
approximately 60% of the global demand for vaccines48. innovation. The government’s recently launched national policy on R&D and
innovation for the pharma-medtech is expected to strengthen the skill
Both the government and the private sector have played vital roles in
ecosystem give a boost to start-ups.
the growth of the PHL industry. The government’s GeM (Government
e-Maketplace), and PLI (Production Linked Incentive) have been vital All of this has had a tremendous impact on the demand for talent in the
links for sale of medical devices and promotion of domestic Indian PHL industry, and we see a diverse canvas of skill and role
manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs), drug requirements — specialist doctors, management professionals, advanced
intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). The pharmaceutical intermediates (API) specialists, research and drug analysts,
private players have boosted innovation through investments in production professionals, etc.
research and development, collaboration with academia and startups,
and establishing Global Capability Centers to foster talent and skill
development.

47
https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/an-overview-of-indian-healthcare-industry-in-2023/106118311
48
https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_in/news/2023/11/ey-re-imagining-pharma-and-healthcare-for-india-100-report.pdf

India talent insights report 2024 | 42


city-wise jobs distribution in PHL.
tier-1 cities
Bengaluru continues its run as the #1 tier-1 city in terms of hiring sciences capital of India’, this city is home to more than 1,000 life-sciences
demand at all levels — junior (21.51%), middle levels (28.29%) and companies50. Telangana has drawn up plans to create health-tech unicorns
senior (21.45%). through incubator programs, and establish a first-of-its-kind biopharma hub
Bengaluru has consolidated its position as a major PHL hub in the (B Hub), a growth and scale-up manufacturing facility. That is why the
country, with a robust ecosystem of pharma companies, hospitals and demand for talent extends across niche skills and all levels of hiring.
healthcare providers, research institutions, and start-ups working on
Delhi-NCR maintains its position as a strong second in junior level hiring
innovative solutions and novel drug discovery. This tier-1 city is also
(18.51%), a very close third at the senior level (16.57%), and fourth at the
acknowledged as the nation’s leading biotech hub, and houses some
middle level (11.44%).
of the largest biotech companies. With such a diverse canvas, it is not
Delhi-NCR has grown as a major healthcare hub, with its world-class tertiary
surprising that Bengaluru’s demand for talent cuts across all levels.
and quaternary care for domestic and international patients. Specifically,
The proposed Knowledge, Healthcare, Innovation and Research (KHIR)
Gurugram’s healthcare market is estimated to be nearly INR 6800 crore51.
city on the outskirts of Bengaluru, is projected to attract investments of
Additionally, pharma companies in Delhi-NCR strongly focus on research and
more than Rs 40,000 crore in healthcare, innovation and knowledge
development, and show a commitment to innovation — making it a hub for
sectors, and create 80,000 jobs in the proposed KHIR City49.
cutting-edge pharmaceutical research.
Hyderabad makes a significant jump to second place in its hiring This tier-1 city is therefore a key source of employment, and provides diverse
demand across middle (22.28%) and senior levels (16.69%), and to the opportunities to professionals — specialty doctors, scientists, researchers,
third place in the junior level (16.80%). api creators, analysts, coders, manufacturing, management professionals,
A good 40% of India's pharmaceutical production comes from and more.
Telangana (of which Hyderabad is the capital). Also termed the ‘life

49
https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/state/karnataka/karnataka-govt-plans-knowledge-healthcare-innovation-city-outside-bengaluru-to-create-80000-jobs
50
https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/roadmap-laid-to-make-hyderabad-the-healthcare-mecca/98208530
51
https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/gurugram-emerges-as-a-major-medical-value-travel-hub-study/98842310

India talent insights report 2024 | 43


Mumbai, ranks third in middle level hiring (15.61%) and home to more than 400 companies in biotechnology,
fifth at both junior (14.65%) and senior (15.78%) levels. pharmaceuticals and medical devices52). This tier-1
Home to many leading Indian and multinational city has also built a vibrant ecosystem for startups
pharmaceutical companies, Mumbai continues to with its streamlined and single-window clearance
foster a vibrant ecosystem of suppliers, distributors, process, dedicated bio-pharmaceutical parks, special
and logistics partners, which caters specifically to this economic zones and bio-incubators with advanced
industry’s unique requirements. research and development facilities that nurture
innovation and product development.
Beyond its excellent infrastructure, Mumbai is also a
This is reflected in its wide range of talent demand —
center for research and development, where reputed
research analysts, api creators, production
scientific and academic institutions collaborate with
specialists, analysts, specialty doctors, and more.
pharma companies. Such innovation promotes the
development of new drugs, therapies, and healthcare
solutions. The demand for skilled professionals and
technical expertise is thus high, and results in a
healthy demand for talent.

Chennai continues its strong and steady position at all


levels — a close fourth in the junior (15.78%) and
senior levels (16. 12%), and a close fifth in the middle
level (10.65%).
Besides maintaining its leading position in medical
tourism, Tamil Nadu (with Chennai as its capital)
stands as a major pharmaceutical producer (being

52
https://startuptn.in/sector/healthcare-and-lifesciences/

India talent insights report 2024 | 44


PHL job distribution across experience levels.
tier-1 cities
Senior level (>=15 years)
Tier-1 cities
bengaluru 21.45
show diverse
Middle level (6-14 years)
hyderabad 16.69 and exciting
bengaluru 28.29 PHL strengths.
delhi-ncr 16.57
Junior level (0-5 years) Bengaluru is
hyderabad 22.28 India’s leading
chennai 16.12
bengaluru 21.51 biotech hub,
mumbai 15.61
mumbai 15.78 Hyderabad the
delhi-ncr 18.51
delhi-ncr 11.44 life-sciences
pune 5.33
hyderabad 16.80 capital, and
chennai 10.65
kolkata 4.88 Delhi-NCR and
chennai 15.78
pune 5.59 Mumbai are
ahmedabad 3.18 major R&D
mumbai 14.65
kolkata 3.69 hubs
kolkata 5.41
ahmedabad 2.45
pune 4.20

ahmedabad 3.15

* the numbers reported are in percentage

45
tier-2 cities
Jaipur makes a high leap to leadership position at the junior (9.03%) Indore ranks fourth in senior level hiring (7.43%), fifth in the junior level
and senior levels (12.16%). (7.40%), and a close sixth (6.73%) at the middle level.
Jaipur has rapidly risen as a successful blend of entrepreneur-driven With more than 96 pharmaceutical units53 and sizeable number of super
super specialty hospitals, corporate healthcare institutions with diverse specialty hospitals and diagnostic facilities, Indore spearheads the march of
quaternary services, and government medical colleges and hospitals. It Madhya Pradesh’s PHL industry. Additionally, the proposed 360-acre medical
also has a robust pharmaceutical ecosystem of manufacturing units, devices park (located just 45 km from Indore) has attracted good
distribution channels, and research facilities. Specifically, its investments, and promises to create significant job opportunities.
distribution model of pharmaceutical franchising has created
significant employment opportunities. Visakhapatnam makes a big jump, tying for the fourth rank in senior level
hiring (7.43%), while retaining its fifth position at the middle level (7.50%).
Chandigarh surges to the first position in middle level hiring (10.96%),
With its robust medical infrastructure and strong research culture,
ranks a strong second in the senior level (10.81%), and a close third in
Visakhapatnam has emerged as a prominent pharmaceutical hub. Home to a
the junior level (8.58%).
host of pharmaceutical companies, two pharma SEZs, and Andhra Pradesh
This is a significant rise for Chandigarh as a major tier-2 employment MedTech Zone this city is a leading producer of Active Pharmaceutical
hub for the PHL industry. Along with the neighboring city of Panchkula, Ingredients (API), bulk drugs and chemicals — offering good job
it is home to a host of major pharmaceutical manufacturing companies opportunities.
— from generic drugs to specialized formulations. The government’s
attractive incentives, land allotments and capital investment subsidies
have boosted the growth of the PHL industry in this tier-2 city.
Additionally, the upcoming bulk drug park in Una district (126 km from
Chandigarh) promises even higher growth and job opportunities.

53
https://invest.mp.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Pharmaceuticals-Medical-devices-and-Healthcare.pdf

India talent insights report 2024 | 46


There is an interesting ascent of different tier-2 cities at different levels of the future
hiring demand Ludhiana ties for the eighth position in senior level hiring (6.08%), and
• Kochi almost ties with Jaipur for the top slot in the junior level (9.01%); features among the Top 15 at the junior and middle levels of hiring. It has
Thiruvananthapuram ranks third at the senior level (8.11%) evolved into a hub of diverse PHL activities — R&D, manufacturing and
Kerala according priority status to the healthcare, pharmaceutical and distribution.
medical devices sectors in its Industrial Policy 2022–2023, we see a As a port city and a major industrial center, Surat is rising as a promising
resurgence of job opportunities in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. This is tier-2 city for the PHL industry. With a number of multi-specialty hospitals
further strengthened by academia-industry collaboration in medical and and world-class health facilities, as well as more than 567 pharmaceutical
equipment research, and campus industrial parks in biotechnology. companies55 (manufacturing and exporting high quality products), Surat is
expected to be a major tier-2 location for the PHL industry.
• At the middle level hiring, Goa ties with Chandigarh for the #1 slot (10.96%)
In addition to contributing 10% to India’s pharma exports54, Goa has
emerged as a leading player in the area of pharma software (to streamline
processes, optimize efficiency, and improve regulatory compliance, for the
pharmaceutical sector). This gives rise to a strong demand for a wide
range of talent at the critical middle level.
• Vadodara comes second to Chandigarh and Goa at the middle level hiring
(9.04%)
Vadodara plays an important role in Gujarat’s PHL market (which is
estimated to touch Rs. 112 crores by 2025). With its strong manufacturing
base, it is home to many pharmaceutical companies and manufacturing
facilities. This has resulted in the creation of great demand for a wide
range of talent — in R&D, manufacturing, quality control, and marketing.
Ludhiana and Surat make an impactful entry as promising tier-2 cities of

54
hhttps://www.logisticsinsider.in/goa-shifts-focus-to-industrial-growth-with-new-investments/
55
https://www.pharmaadda.in/list-of-pharma-companies-in-surat#:~:text=There%20are%20approximately%20567%20pharmaceutical,Gujarat%20but%20all%20over%20India.

India talent insights report 2024 | 47


PHL job distribution across experience levels.
tier-2 cities
Senior level (>=15 years)

Middle level (6-14 years) jaipur 12.16

chandigarh 10.96 chandigarh 10.81


Junior level (0-5 years)
goa 10.96 thiruvananthapuram 8.11 Jaipur,
jaipur 9.03
Chandigarh,
indore 7.43
kochi 9.01
vadodara 9.04 Kochi and Goa
kochi 7.43
make big leaps
thane 8.08
chandigarh 8.58 to top ranks at
visakhapatnam 7.50 visakhapatnam 7.43 different levels
lucknow 8.09
of hiring
indore 6.73 vadodara 6.76
indore 7.40 demand in the
lucknow 5.58 goa 6.08 PHL industry
mohali 7.24

jaipur 4.42 ludhiana 6.08


vadodara 6.88

kochi 4.42 coimbatore 6.08


coimbatore 6.20

mohali 4.23
thane 5.04

goa 3.94

* the numbers reported are in percentage

48
key talent trends across PHL skills.
There is a huge jump in the average junior level With a rapid rise in multi-specialty hospitals,
hiring in tier-1 cities over last year (80.93% vs Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Pune show the highest
56.28%). Tier-2 cities maintained their high average demand for specialty doctors.
of junior level hiring at 85.86%.
The role of research analysts ranks a strong
The Indian PHL industry has very ambitious plans second at all levels of hiring — junior (21.13%),
for the decades ahead as it moves to its India@100 middle (21.31%) and senior (22.29%).
goals. It looks to touch USD 130 billion by 2030
As India steps beyond R&D in generics (where it is
and USD 450 billion market by 2047, and the
an established leader) to complex generics,
healthcare sector looks to achieve a Disability
biosimilars, new chemical entities (NCEs) and new
Adjusted Life Years (DALY) rate of 10,000 and
biological entities (NBEs), the demand for skilled
out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure of 10%56. This
research analysts has increased across all levels.
calls for aggressive capacity expansion and talent
With India moving surely into the next-gen
development, and provides great employment
therapy space, we can expect this trend to further
opportunities for the youth of the country.
increase.
Hiring of specialty doctors ranked first at the junior Mumbai (as the headquarters of pharma giants),
(34.24%) and senior levels (23.09%) — and third in and Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru (with a
the middle level (16.26%). good number of research labs) show a high
Specialty doctors are in high demand due to many demand for research analysts. Coimbatore, Jaipur
reasons — demographic shifts, advancements in and Vadodara — among tier-2 cities — see a
medical technology, lifestyle changes, widening strong demand for research analysts. Across both
global health challenges, etc. This has led to the rise tier-1 and tier-2 cities, there is healthy demand for
of specialist healthcare services such as management research analysts, especially in the junior and
of infectious diseases, public health, epidemics middle levels — opening promising avenues of
and pandemics, behavioral counselling, healthcare employment.
informatics, and niche telemedicine areas.
56
https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_in/news/2023/11/ey-re-imagining-pharma-and-healthcare-for-india-100-report.pdf

India talent insights report 2024 | 49


There is a consistent and high demand for management professionals across all cater to diverse global needs with resilience and adaptability. This has placed
levels for the first time. This demand scales from fifth position at the junior manufacturing operations and supply chain capabilities in drug development
hiring (8.07%) to a strong first at the middle level (32.51%), and a close third at at the forefront, and we thus see a healthy demand for production skills.
the senior level (21.69%).
The roles of the drug analyst, formulation scientist, and bioinformatics
The move to value-driven healthcare pervades the PHL industry, as India professional have made their maiden entry into the skills demand list this year.
prepares itself to become the global healthcare and pharmaceutical hub. There
is thus a compelling need for strategic leadership and this is reflected in the As India rises to become a global force in innovation and R&D, these roles
talent trends. have gained in demand.

Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru among tier-1 cities — and • As a skill in developing, preparing and maintaining quality data analytics for
Jaipur, Coimbatore, and Lucknow among tier-2 cities show the highest demand leadership decision-making in promoting new growth opportunities for the
for management professionals in the middle and senior levels. organization, the drug analyst is a strategic role that progresses from the
junior and middle levels to the ninth rank at the senior level.
Demand for API ranks third in junior level (15.08%), and fourth in both the • Equally strategic is the role of the formulation scientist, who leads the
middle level (15.27%) and senior level (13.05%). design and development of formulations, scales up for manufacturing for
India ranks as the world's third-largest API producer, and supplies 57% of APIs clinical and pre-clinical trials, and prepares reports for regulatory
that are listed on the WHO prequalified catalogue57. Given its advanced submissions. That is why this role ranks among the Top 10 in hiring demand
chemical industry and competitive costs, India has attracted significant at the middle and senior levels.
investments in this sector, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.7% in the • The bioinformatic scientist, who conducts research to study huge molecular
next few years. datasets (through software and custom scripts that automate data mining
With a reported talent churn of 40% in leadership roles in the Indian API and manipulation) is a sought-after skill at the junior level (and progressing
segment58 the demand for talent is expected to grow — especially for the roles to the middle level), as they emerge from advanced academic learning
of site heads, cluster heads and chief operating officers to lead and strategically
As in the previous years, most hiring for medical coders, pharmacists, medical
drive the growth of manufacturing operations.
representatives, and staff nurse are in the junior and middle level.
The demand for production skills ranks among the Top 5 skills hired across all levels. The PHL industry maintains its successful practice of hiring freshers and junior
Cost competitiveness, economies of scale, and efficient manufacturing candidates with potential from academia and other industries, and skilling
processes has placed the Indian PHL industry in a position to provide scale and them to meet their individual requirements.

57
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/indias-api-industry-faces-high-leadership-talent-churn-report/articleshow/107911987.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
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https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/api-industry-facing-40-shortage-of-leadership-talent-has-no-women-in-top-positions-report-12332481.html

India talent insights report 2024 | 50


PHL job distribution by skills.
Senior level (>=15 years)

speciality doctors 23.09

Middle level (6-14 years) research analyst 22.29

management 32.51 management 21.69


Junior level (0-5 years)
research analyst 21.31 api 13.05 Management
specialty doctors 34.24 professionals,
speciality doctors 16.26 production 12.25 drug analysts,
research analyst 21.13
formulation
api 15.27 medical coder 1.81
api 15.08
scientists and
production 12.26 medical officer 1.61 bioinformatics
production 9.55 scientist are
medical officer 0.68 microbiologist 1.20
now in demand
management 8.07
formulation scientist 0.48 formulation scientist 0.60
in the PHL
staff nurse 3.31 industry
pharmacist 0.38 medical representative 0.60
pharmacist 2.23
drug analyst 0.20
medical coder 2.17
medical coder 0.14
medical officer 1.54

medical representative 0.92

* the numbers reported are in percentage

51
the future talent landscape for PHL.
As part of the India@100 vision, the Indian PHL the PHL industry.
industry has set its sights on touching USD 130 • Build end-to-end supply chain efficiency to
billion by 2030 and USD 450 billion by 204759. This place India as a credible ‘China+1’ option
vision will be driven by a focus on innovation, This opens up tremendous employment
delivery of access to integrated healthcare, and opportunities across diverse areas of domain,
integration with the global pharmaceutical technology, research, quality, patient experience,
landscape. manufacturing, supply chain and strategic
It is an exciting future for this industry, as it focuses management. Specifically, the rapid growth of
on the following areas to achieve its 2047 goals: pharma GCCs augurs well for talent development
• Establish a collaborative innovation ecosystem and deployment at scale. The PHL industry will do
where corporates, startups, biotechs, academia, well to accelerate its investments in collaborating
and clinical researchers come together with academia in drawing up higher education
• Build global capability centers (GCC) that foster and vocational programs to enhance
talent and skill development across the PHL value employability of the young brigade — and bolster
chain it through rapid reskilling and upskilling.

• Transform the R&D value chain by leveraging the


power of digital, data analytics, AI, and
automation — to not only enable greater
efficiency, reduced cost and productivity, but
also to enhance patient access to such value. The
significant amount of INR 100,000 crore
allocated in the interim 2024 budget for R&D in
sunrise sectors will act as a fillip for innovation in

59
https://www.ey.com/en_in/health/pharma-and-healthcare-for-india-100-a-century-of-change-on-the-horizon
India talent insights report 2024 | 52
talent insights.
industry focus – retail, FMCG & FMCD
Rising consumer demand, disruptive technology innovations, global partnerships consumer electronics and appliances, modern trade, and e-commerce. The strong
and strategic investments signaled the renaissance of the Indian retail, FMCG and demand for skills such as fashion, graphic and accessory designing, store managers,
FMCD sectors in 2023 — building on the resurgence seen in 2022. This was fueled quality assurance and product managers reflect this reality.
by burgeoning physical and online access due to strong digital ecosystems, greater Social commerce has emerged as a new frontier to directly integrate shopping
convenience through lower logistics costs, and higher affordability (especially with experiences into social media channels — with influencer marketing, live streaming,
the average per capita income moving past the USD 2000 mark). and interactive content as vital tools in driving sales and revenues. And thus, we see
A significant feature of this sector’s growth has been the tremendous demand a significant demand for retail and visual merchandizing skills.
and reach of e-commerce in tier-2 cities (seven out of 10 online shoppers live in The growth of the FMCG (valued at USD 230.14 billion in 202365) and FMCD
Tier-2+ cities). We thus have two additional tier-2 cities featuring in our Talent (registering a 8-10 percent increase66 in revenues In FY 2023) segments was also
Insights Report this year — Ludhiana and Surat. This is also reflected in the driven by digitization, e-commerce, recovery of rural markets, sustainable product
employment demand in tier-2 locations, especially at the junior level. development and packaging. We thus see a seamless and holistic convergence of
Establishing itself as the fourth largest retail destination worldwide, the Indian skills mentioned above in the retail, FMCG and FMCD sector, and this is a very
retail industry registered a value growth of 9.7% in 2023 to touch USD 1.3 positive development for both employment opportunities and talent development.
trillion61. In terms of contribution to the national economy, it accounts for more With the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) market emerging as a potent force (thanks to
than 10% of India's GDP and 8% of its total workforce62. Riding the digital waves, e-commerce), the roles of product analysts, category managers and r&d specialists
India's e-commerce market led this growth with an estimated revenue of more (with expertise in data analytics, AI-powered algorithms, IoT, 3D printing),
than USD 63 billion63 — and about 230-250 million online shoppers64. The have played a big role in personalizing consumer preferences and enhancing
segments driving this growth include food and grocery, apparel and footwear, direct distribution.
60
https://www.india-briefing.com/news/navigating-business-prospects-in-indias-retail-industry-key-growth-drivers-29245.html/
61
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/indian-retail-recap-2023-technopak-advisors-edzic
62
https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/blog/a-glance-at-indias-retail-renaissance-in-2023/106431407
63
https://www.statista.com/forecasts/289770/e-commerce-revenue-forecast-in-india
64
https://www.bain.com/insights/how-india-shops-online-2023/#:~:text=India's%20annual%20transacting%20e%2Dretail,250%20million%20people%20in%202023.
65
https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/indian-fast-moving-consumer-goods-fmcg-market/29038/
66
https://sundayguardianlive.com/business/demand-for-premium-goods-may-lift-consumer-durables-industry-revenue-by-8-10

India talent insights report 2024 | 53


city-wise jobs distribution in retail, FMCG & FMCD.
tier-1 cities
Bengaluru leads the rank in the junior (27.43%) and middle levels Yamuna Expressway, and Faridabad, to name a few, have emerged as
(35.88%) of hiring —and ranks second in the senior level (18.45%). powerful retail hotspots.
The reopening of the retail hubs and rising consumer sentiment This location has indeed shown a paradigm shift in the retail, FMCG and
amongst Bengaluru’s diverse population makes Bengaluru a very FMCD sector to bring in technology-led innovation to reimagine shopping
strong hub for the retail, FMCG and FMCD sector. In fact, this tier-1 city experiences with experiential retail spaces. This explains both the high
witnessed the highest supply of retail space since the pandemic in the demand of talent at all levels — and especially at the strategic senior levels.
last quarter of 202367. Leading international and Indian brands have
Mumbai, ranks second in the middle level of hiring (17.59%) and third at the
upped their presence in Bengaluru (including new-gen retail, FMCG
junior level (13.79%).
and FMCD companies) — a 2023 research showed that this city has the
best of high streets that provide superior shopping experiences68. The Mumbai’s history as a traditional bastion in retail, FMCG and FMCD, has been
high demand for talent in this sector is therefore not surprising. further enhanced by the opening of immersive retail spaces (such as the
recently opened Jio World Plaza), which aims to showcase the best of global
Delhi-NCR jumps to an outpacing first place in senior level hiring and Indian brands. Additionally, Mumbai also has a significant number of
(34.37%), a strong second in the junior level (23.04%), and a close third manufacturing units, and corporate offices of many large FMCG companies.
in the middle level (15.47%). There is thus a healthy demand for talented professionals. Additionally,
Delhi-NCR has risen in the charts both as an attractive market and Bhiwandi, a suburb of Mumbai, is a big warehouse hub for all major online
headquarters for a host of retail and FMCG companies. Investors have retail, FMCG and FMCD companies, and India’s biggest transport hub —
therefore keenly tapped into commercial real estate —to leverage this creating a strong employment demand in logistics and warehousing.
strategic location’s well-developed infrastructure and large consumer
base (with large spending power). Noida, Greater Noida (West),

67
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India talent insights report 2024 | 54


Hyderabad maintains its fourth spot in its hiring demand across Kolkata has vaulted to the sixth position in junior (4.74%) and middle
junior (13.44%), middle (13.98%) and senior levels (9.83%). level (3.17%) hiring, and to the fifth in senior level hiring (8.37%).
Hyderabad accounted for 10% in leasing across India’s top eight West Bengal is one of the most populous states with a rich cultural
cities between January to September 2023 — with retail space heritage, and offers a diverse market for the retail, FMCG and FMCD
absorption surging by 145% YoY69. The city’s excellent urban sector — both in the urban and suburban segments. It is the
infrastructure, combined with its modern working population has led headquarters to many FMCG heavyweights, and its organized retail
to a sizeable presence of major Indian and international brands, sector is spread over more than 8 million sq. ft. Kolkata also
especially in the fashion and apparel segment. Demand for talent is contributes 8-12% of the logistics leasing activities in India70. This has
thus high and this is expected to rise in the coming years. enhanced the demand for talent uniformly across all levels.

Chennai shows a significant jump to the fifth spot in the junior level
(10.40%) and third in the senior level (14. 20%) — while maintaining
its fifth rank in the middle level (8.11%).
Retail is one of the biggest sectors in Tamil Nadu, with Chennai as a
major center for retail, FMCG and FMCD companies. Its strategic
location, well-developed infrastructure, and thriving industrial base
has also seen its rise as a significant logistics hub in the last few years
with a surging demand for warehousing facilities. This accounts for
its strong and steady demand for talent across all levels.

69
hhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2023/Oct/20/retail-space-absorption-in-hyderabad-rises-by-145-per-cent-yoy-report-2625591.html
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https://www.indiaretailing.com/2024/03/23/west-bengal-retail-powerhouse-malls/

India talent insights report 2024 | 55


retail, FMCG & FMCD job distribution across experience levels.
tier-1 cities
Senior level (>=15 years)

delhi-ncr 34.47

Middle level (6-14 years)


bengaluru 18.45
bengaluru 35.88
chennai 14.20 Delhi-NCR
Junior level (0-5 years) jumps
mumbai 17.59
bengaluru 27.43
hyderabad 9.83 significantly
delhi-ncr 15.47 ahead in hiring
kolkata 8.37
delhi-ncr 23.04 demand
hyderabad 13.98
mumbai 7.04 across all
mumbai 13.79
chennai 8.11 levels
ahmedabad 5.10
hyderabad 13.44
kolkata 3.17
pune 2.55
chennai 10.40
pune 3.09
kolkata 4.74
ahmedabad 2.70
pune 4.68

ahmedabad 2.50

* the numbers reported are in percentage

56
tier-2 cities
In a major jump, Jaipur ranks as the leader across all levels of hiring — junior Lucknow rises to a close third in junior level hiring (7.82%), fourth in senior level
(21.44%), middle (23.18%), and senior (28.71%). hiring (7.18%), and among the top ten in the middle level segment.
This is a tremendous increase of demand in this tier-2 city, which is Rajasthan’s The FMCG sector has emerged as a key employment generator in Lucknow
commercial and industrial hub. Marked by lower operating costs, proximity to thanks to the UP government’s GBC 4.0 initiative. Plus, the city’s retail real estate
Delhi-NCR, and an attractive talent pool, Jaipur has consolidated its position as market witnessed robust growth, driven by rapid urbanization, a rising middle
a prominent center for the retail, FMCG and FMCD sector. With an international class population, and increased consumer spending. This tier-2 city has seen the
airport and air cargo complex, Jaipur is a thriving and reliable destination for emergence of high-street retail outlets and new shopping malls due to the
facilitating exports in the jewellery, gemstones, textiles and home décor expansion of domestic and international retail brands.
segments. Plus, the city has a vibrant mix of high streets, shopping malls,
Kochi rises to the second position in middle level hiring (7.51%), a very close
high-end boutiques and multi-brand stores. It is not surprising that Jaipur has
fourth in the junior level (7.76%) and features in the top ten in the senior level.
risen in the charts for talent demand.
Kerala has emerged as a leading retail destination, with Kochi leading the total
Chandigarh surges to the second position in junior level hiring (8.29%), ties Grade A retail supply in 2023 at 1 million sq. ft71. Kochi now has more than 10
for the fourth in the middle level (6.84%) and third at the senior level (8.61%). shopping malls, which house major global brands and value formats. The
This is a significant jump for Chandigarh as it becomes a major tier-2 increased demand for talent reflects the versatility of its key retail segments —
employment hub for the retail, FMCG and FMCD industry. Its economic fashion and apparel (57% share), homeware and department stores (23% share)
growth and well-planned infrastructure have given rise to an affluent and luxury (7% share)72.
consumer base, which has attracted major domestic and international retail
brands. Along with its sister city, Mohali (ranked sixth in junior and middle
level hiring), Chandigarh has become a prominent and thriving retail market
opening up tremendous employment opportunities.

71
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India talent insights report 2024 | 57


Indore surges to the second spot in senior level hiring (12.44%), and is Coimbatore, Ludhiana, Nagpur and Goa feature in the Top 10 ranks
placed fourth in middle level hiring (6.84%), and almost ties with Kochi across different levels of hiring.
for the fourth place in junior level (7.76%) hiring. Coimbatore’s rise in the retail micro-markets of fashion and apparel, and
The Indore FMCG market is estimated at INR 10,000 crore+ and is food and beverage continues to provide employment opportunities.
projected to grow at a CAGR of 10-12% in the coming years73. This rapid Ludhiana’s growth rides on its strengths in textile and hosiery, and
growth has been driven by a thriving modern trade catering to strong bicycle manufacturing — and its emergence as the largest
urbanization, and the growth of e-commerce. Retail space absorption manufacturing cluster in north India. As a first-time entrant to the list of
has also been high at 0.3 million square feet on a retail supply of less tier-2 cities, it ranks 7th on middle level hiring and ties for the 6th place
than one million square feet74. Indore’s talent demand rises on the in senior level hiring.
growth of its apparel, FMCG, food and entertainment segments. The World Trade Center Nagpur, with its global affiliations and
state-of-the-art amenities, has provided a strong boost for the retail,
Bhopal makes a significant jump to a close third rank in middle level FMCG and FMCD industry to provide employment opportunities.
hiring (7.28%), and features among the top ten in senior level hiring.
Goa has made an impressive jump to the Top 10 list among tier-2 cities
With an urban population of approximately two million, high literacy in this sector. Its FMCG and FMCD industry rides high on its
rate, and an expanding urban catchment area, Bhopal is emerging as a performance in the packaged food and beverage, beauty and
hot spot for the retail, FMCG and FMCD industry. The residents of cosmetics, and medical and healthcare products. In retail, its space
Bhopal are engaged in large retail business (handicrafts, sporting absorption in 2023 crossed 0.4 million square feet, and attracted a host
equipment, fabrics, etc.) — and in recent years, the city has also seen a of international and local brands. The highly anticipated DLF Mall in
spurt of large malls being opened. As a state, Madhya Pradesh is most Panjim will further add to the city's vibrant retail landscape.
centrally located, and offers easy connectivity to several parts of India. Surat makes an impactful entry as a Tier-2 city to watch out for in the
Many FMCG companies have therefore moved their warehouses to the years to come.
state to leverage its logistical advantages. As one of the four ‘Growth Hubs’ identified by the Government of India,
With the implementation of Bhopal’s Masterplan 2031 that includes Surat makes an impressive debut, ranking in the Top 15 of the 20 tier-2
residential, retail and infrastructure development, Bhopal’s rise as an cities featured in this report. The recently opened Surat Diamond Bourse
employment hub for the retail, FMCG and FMCD industry reflects this city’s ambition to become the world’s diamond capital. This
seems imminent. is expected to provide 150,000 additional jobs75.
73
https://www.indianretailer.com/article/retail-business/retail/best-fmcg-distributors-indore-detailed-list-2024
74
https://www.republicworld.com/business/real-estate/retail-revolution-sweeps-across-tier-ii-cities-as-35-major-brands-expand-in-jan-sep-23/
75
businesstoday.in/latest/economy/story/pm-modi-inaugurates-surat-diamond-bourse-new-terminal-building-of-surat-airport-409777-2023-12-17

India talent insights report 2024 | 58


retail, FMCG & FMCD job distribution across experience levels.
Jaipur makes
tier-2 cities a major leap
Senior level (>=15 years) to lead in
hiring
Middle level (6-14 years)
jaipur 28.71 demand
across all
indore 12.44
jaipur 23.18 levels
Junior level (0-5 years)
chandigarh 8.61
kochi 7.51
jaipur 21.44
lucknow 7.18
bhopal 7.28
chandigarh 8.29
nagpur 5.26
indore 6.84
lucknow 7.82
ludhiana 5.26
chandigarh 6.84
kochi 7.76
kochi 4.31
mohali 6.62
indore 7.60
coimbatore 4.31 Ludhiana and
ludhiana 5.08
mohali 5.05 Surat enter the
goa 4.31 list of top 15
coimbatore 4.64
coimbatore 4.92
tier-2 cities for
bhopal 3.83
lucknow 4.42 the first time in
goa 4.69
the retail,
thane 3.53
nagpur 4.67 FMCG & FMCD
sector
mysore 3.69

* the numbers reported are in percentage

59
key talent trends across retail, FMCG & FMCD skills.
There was a significant jump in junior level hiring The vibrant and expanding retail industry offers
over last year— an average of 83.64% and 87.11% tremendous opportunities for job seekers with a
of the overall hiring in tier-1 and tier-2 cities, creative flair. Fashion, graphic and accessory
respectively, has been for fresher’s and juniors. designing go beyond creating clothing and
This has reinforced the trend of youth employment accessories to include niche specialization — textile
opportunities in the retail, FMCG and FMCD sector technology, sustainable fashion, and more. Ranking
at all locations. first across all levels reinforces the opportunities for
The Indian retail industry is aggressively augmenting career development for such skilled professionals.
its technological capabilities (AI, data and analytics) The role of the store manager jumps to second
to revamp online engagement and elevate in-store position in the junior (25.82%) and senior level
experiences. This leads to new job opportunities in (26.57%) hiring, and ranks third in middle level
the industry — and with the good availability of junior hiring (8.35%).
skills in most tier-1 and tier-2 cities, there is
Physical retail, which saw a strong recovery in 2022,
confidence in hiring large numbers at this level.
made a powerful surge in 2023 with strategic
In Pune, Delhi-NCR region, Kolkata, and Chennai
investments for 60 new shopping malls across the
among tier-1 cities, more than 85% of the total
country, occupying more than 23 million sq. ft of
demand is for junior professionals. In the tier-2 cities
retail space76. The store manager’s role therefore
of Vishakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Surat
becomes critical all over again, and the demand for
close to 93% of the total demand has been for
senior level hiring underscores the strategic
freshers.
importance of this role. The dominance of hiring for
At every level, the demand for fashion/graphic/ this role at the junior level shows the industry’s
accessory designers outpaced others to rank a willingness to groom youngsters for this skill.
strong first — junior (32.50%), middle (40.45%) and
senior (31.68%).

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India talent insights report 2024 | 60
Retail and visual merchandising roles rank a strong second in middle level Product analysts are vital for creating the right products at the right prices for
hiring (25.56%) and third at the junior (20.07%) and senior (19.14%) levels. the right segments of customers and markets — and for driving management
Retail and visual merchandizing is the critical skill that boosts revenues decisions on investments. Considering the goals of the Indian retail, FMCG
through brand enhancement, and heightened customer engagement and and FMCD industry to make impactful forays into the global market, this role
experiences and brand loyalty. With this skill moving into exciting areas of will further grow in stature.
interactive displays, sustainability, technology integration, and personalization, The demand for product analysts stands among the top 10 skills at both the
there are tremendous opportunities for retail and visual merchandizing junior and middle levels, and this is a clear indication of the upward career
professionals in the future. mobility for this skill.
Quality assurance maintains its important position as in previous years, ranking The role of the e-commerce executive also makes its maiden appearance in
fourth across all levels — junior (5.58%), middle (6.02%) and senior (10.56%). the talent trends this year.
With the increasing product and technology innovations in the retail, FMCG With e-commerce burgeoning in volumes across all locations — and across
and FMCD industry, quality assurance will play a vital role. The opportunities the individual segments of retail, FMCG and FMCD — the e-commerce
for quality assurance professionals with added skills to address customer executive becomes a critical cog to support the company's digital
experience, IT infrastructure (especially for online retail), omni-channel merchandise strategy, launch new products, manage product portfolio,
marketing, cyber security, will be certainly higher. develop marketing campaigns, and track and improve customer experience.
Apparel/garment technician skills rank fifth at the junior and middle level Being a strategic role, it finds a place in the top ten skills at the middle and
hiring, and sixth at the senior level. senior levels. The fact that it is also a close 11th in ranking at the junior level
Working closely with the design, sourcing and factory teams, apparel/garment shows its promise and potential for sustained career development.
technicians are versatile specialists — from pattern cutting, fabric choices and Franchising, r&d professionals, sales executives, and category managers
fittings, quality and performance of the garment piece. With the apparel continue to feature among the top ten skills for the retail and FMCG industry.
industry ruling high in both tier-1 and tier-2 cities, employment opportunities
for this skill will continue to expand.
The product analyst enters the skill portfolio for the first time in the retail,
FMCG and FMCD industry.

India talent insights report 2024 | 61


retail, FMCG & FMCD job distribution by skills. The demand
Senior level (>=15 years) for fashion /
fashion/graphic/ graphic /
accessory designers 31.68
accessory
Middle level (6-14 years)
store manager 26.57 designers
fashion/graphic/ ranks a strong
Junior level (0-5 years) accessory designers 40.45 retail/visual
merchandising 19.14 first at all
fashion/graphic/ retail/visual levels
accessory designers 32.50 merchandising 25.56 quality assurance 10.56

store manager 25.82 store manager 8.35 apparel/garment


technician 2.81
retail/visual quality assurance 6.02
merchandising 20.07 franchising 2.64
franchising 4.74
quality assurance 5.58 r&d professionals 1.98
category manager 4.03
For the first
franchising 2.93 category manager 1.65
apparel/garment time, product
category manager 2.37 technician 3.89 area manager 0.66 analyst and
e-commerce
apparel/garment r&d professionals 2.66 ecommerce executive 0.66
technician 2.23 executive roles
product analyst 1.61 feature among
product analyst 2.16
the top ten skill
ecommerce executive 1.47
r&d professionals 1.96 buckets levels
for the retail,
sales executive 1.58
FMCG and
FMCD industry
* the numbers reported are in percentage

62
the future talent landscape for retail, FMCG & FMCD.
The Indian retail market is poised to touch USD 350 billion by 202577 incomes, these cities that are now contributing 56% of the nation's retail
and will be led by the digital revolution of e-commerce and spending79, will grow further. With the high diversity of regional
omni-channel innovations in the traditional brick-and-mortar stores preferences, this is a huge market opportunity for retailers looking to
for a seamless shopping experience. India’s e-commerce is projected expand beyond the saturated metros and tier-1 cities, — and bodes well
to grow by 18% per year till 2025, with an Internet user base of more for job opportunities in these new locations. Additionally, this industry is
than one billion78. Social commerce will further blur the lines between heavily focusing on consolidating warehouses and building logistics
browsing and purchasing, and create a more interactive and networks for effective hub-and-spoke models. Warehouse automation
engaging shopping experience. will definitely be the way to go — and future talent demand in
In terms of skill demand, both aspirants and organizations need to be warehousing, inventory and distribution will call for proficiency in
cognizant of the fact that technology will have a huge influence on advanced robotics, AI, advanced data analytics and cloud-based
talent requirements and opportunities. Conventional positions (such systems.
as clerks, warehouse supervisors, and backend sales staff) will likely By 2030, this industry is projected to generate 25 million new jobs to
be automated with self-serve and advanced inventory and payment be the single largest creator of new jobs in the country80. With
systems. While eliminating some roles, this trend will give rise to frictionless retail being the future mantra for the retail, FMCG and
demand in new roles for e-commerce fulfilment, digital marketing, FMCD industry, talent acquisition and management must take
and product analysis — this is exactly what we see in our report with cognizance of this reality, and embrace innovation, adaptability, an
respect to newer skill demands. unerring focus on customer experience. Cutting edge technologies,
Tier-2 & 3 cities will emerge as frontiers of growth for the retail, FMCG domain expertise, sustainable practices will be key requirements for
and FMCD industry. With rapid urbanization and increasing disposable both organizations and their talent force.

77
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/indias-e-commerce-market-reach-350-billion-2030-dfupublications-zlpqc#:~:text=India's%20e%2Dcommerce%20market%20is,transforming%20their%20dreams%20into%20reality.
&text=E%2Dcommerce%20simplifies%20operations%2C%20replacing,guesswork%20with %20data%2Ddriven%20insights.
78
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/indias-e-commerce-market-reach-350-billion-2030-dfupublications-zlpqc#:~:text=India's%20e%2Dcommerce%20market%20is,transforming%20their%20dreams%20into%20reality.
&text=E%2Dcommerce%20simplifies%20operations%2C%20replacing, guesswork%20with%20data%2Ddriven%20insights.
79
https://www.fortuneindia.com/macro/non-metro-msmes-likely-to-surge-ahead-of-metro-cities-in-festive-sales/114446
80
https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/blog/a-glance-at-indias-retail-renaissance-in-2023/106431407

India talent insights report 2024 | 63


talent insights.
industry focus – energy & utilities
As the third-largest consumer of energy in the world, India saw a 3.4% management (to manage the new energy production methods), and transmission
increase in peak demand in 2023 from the highest level in 2022. The Indian and distribution. The talent insights for the energy and utilities sector aligns well to
power sector employs a blend of traditional fuel sources (coal, oil, and gas), the industry’s leading sub-sectors — transmission and distribution, renewable
and environmentally sustainable sources (solar, wind, biomass, industrial energy, energy storage and natural gas. Be it in the locations of talent demand and
waste, and hydro plants). the skills in demand, the findings in our report correlate well to the developments in
While fossil fuels dominate India’s power sector (this is necessary to cater to a this industry. In short, India’s march to becoming a global force in renewable energy
population of approximately 1.4 billion), the country has set ambitious goals is well captured in our data and insights.
increase the share of renewable and nuclear energy. Simultaneously, efforts
are being made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on
energy imports.
As of May 31 2023, India’s installed renewable energy capacity stood at 179
GW (with solar and wind comprising 67 GW and 43 GW, respectively)81.
Simultaneously, the government also intends to raise the share of natural gas
to 15% by 2030, as part of its transition to renewable energy.
Especially in the clean energy space, we are seeing an unprecedented shift in
capital allocation, and this presents a great opportunity for both job creation
and skills. While energy transition has adopted technology and innovation at
its core, it also presents opportunities for management and finance
professionals (owing to significant capital allocation), production and factory

India talent insights report 2024 | 64


city-wise jobs distribution in energy & utilities.
tier-1 cities
Bengaluru leads the rankings in hiring demand in the junior (23.81%) Delhi-NCR ranks second in senior level hiring (18.87%), and fourth at both the
and middle levels (28.36%); and stands third in the senior level junior (14.44%), and middle level (12.43%).
(16.39%). Delhi’s ambitious plans of increasing the share of renewable energy in the
Karnataka’s renewable installed capacity stands at ~56 % of the total power pie to more than 50%83 has opened plenty of business and
energy mix, the highest in the country82. Karnataka’s renewable energy employment opportunities, and this is seen in the demand for talent. The
potential is still large, and that explains Bengaluru’s (the state capital) government’s proposed solar power policy should further add to the
high demand for energy professionals. opportunities.

Mumbai ranks first in senior level hiring (26.49%) and second in the Chennai ranks third in the junior (17.29%) and middle level hiring (17.68%),
junior (20.58%) and middle levels (18.86%). and fourth in senior level hiring (14.24%).
Maharashtra’s power industry holds the distinction of being the largest As a major wind energy producer and a leader in wind turbine manufacturing,
producer and consumer of electricity in India — and also one of the Tamil Nadu has an excellent ecosystem of wind energy generation and
best in terms of financial performance, quality of power supply, component manufacture. This has given rise to a number of medium and
adoption of digital technologies and promotion of clean energy. As small-scale component manufacturers to boost job opportunities.
part of its Vision 2030, it has drawn up ambitious plans in the areas of
generation, transmission, load dispatch and distribution — and this is
reflected in the talent demand across levels.

82
https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/in/Documents/about-deloitte/in-ad-india-karnataka-investment-destination-noexp.pdf
83
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/more-than-a-third-of-power-consumed-in-delhi-is-green/articleshow/105972288.cms

India talent insights report 2024 | 65


energy & utilities job distribution across experience levels.
tier-1 cities
Senior level (>=15 years)

mumbai 26.49

Middle level (6-14 years) Mumbai shows


delhi-ncr 18.87
bengaluru 28.36
immense
Junior level (0-5 years)
bengaluru 16.39 potential in the
mumbai 18.86 energy and
chennai 14.24
bengaluru 23.81 utilities sector,
chennai 17.68
pune 6.95 with a notable
mumbai 20.58
delhi-ncr 12.43 rise in hiring
ahmedabad 6.79
chennai 17.29 demand
pune 7.48 across all
hyderabad 6.29
delhi-ncr 14.44 levels
hyderabad 7.05
kolkata 3.97
hyderabad 8.52
kolkata 5.17
pune 7.96
ahmedabad 2.99
kolkata 4.80

ahmedabad 2.60

* the numbers reported are in percentage

66
tier-2 cities
Vadodara takes the top slot in hiring demand at all levels — junior hydrogen-based energy plant (1,000 KW) on the premises of Cochin
(21.54%), middle (41.34%) and senior (43.10%). International Airport by 2025. The state aims to become 100% reliant on
Vadodara has seen a surge in investments in solar and wind power renewable energy by 2040 and to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050. This
projects. Combined with Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited offers excellent opportunities to generate employment.
(GIPCL)’s commitment to renewable energy, this has opened excellent job Coimbatore stands second in middle level hiring (13.98%), sixth in senior level
opportunities at all levels. Additionally, Vadodara is a strong hub for and eighth in the junior level.
power transmission and distribution equipment manufacturing. With many textile and engineering units in Coimbatore investing renewable
Vadodara’s strength in both manufacturing and technology makes it an energy for reasons of cost and fulfilment of ESG objectives, we can see the
ideal location for both talent demand and availability — and this explains growth of this industry, and future opportunities for talent demand — especially
its #1 position at all levels. as this tier-2 city has a strong pipeline of talent in the industrial and technology
Jaipur ranks second in junior level hiring (11.62%), fourth in middle level sectors.
(7.29%) and third in senior level (12.07%). Indore ranks fourth in both senior level (10.34%) and junior level hiring (9.22%) —
Under Rajasthan's Renewable Energy Policy 2023, which aims to raise the and is among the Top 10 in the middle level.
state to a leadership position in renewable energy in four years, quite a Indore is embarking on a pathbreaking and transformative path of becoming a
few projects are in progress to promote solar, wind and hybrid power — ‘solar city’. This plan looks at generating 300 MW power through solar panels,
as well as battery energy storage systems. Jaipur as the capital of and has set the foundation for creating significant job opportunities.
Rajasthan is the epicenter of hiring activities — and it leverages its
Surat and Ludhiana, new entrants to the list of tier-2 cities in our report this time,
strength in the technology talent space to create a healthy demand for
are positioned impressively in the Top 15 across different levels.
new-gen energy requirements.
Other tier-2 locations that are positioned to rise in the future are Chandigarh,
Kochi takes the second position in the hiring demand in the senior level
Lucknow, Nagpur, Bhopal, Nashik, and Mysore.
(13.79%). It stands third in middle level hiring (7.60%) and a close fifth in
the junior level (8.82%).
Kerala’s initiatives have generated more than 1,000 MW of solar
and wind energy. Work is also under way to develop the first

India talent insights report 2024 | 67


energy & utilities job distribution across experience levels. Vadodara

tier-2 cities moves to the


top of the
table among
Senior level (>=15 years) tier-2 cities in
Middle level (6-14 years) hiring
vadodara 43.10
demand at all
Junior level (0-5 years) vadodara 41.34 kochi 13.79 levels
vadodara 21.54 coimbatore 13.98 jaipur 12.07

jaipur 11.62 kochi 7.60 indore 10.34

thane 10.32 jaipur 7.29 chandigarh 6.90

indore 9.22 thane 5.78 coimbatore 5.17

kochi 8.82 nagpur 4.56 ludhiana 3.45 Surat and


chandigarh 6.91 chandigarh 3.34 Ludhiana, new
bhopal 1.72
entrants to the
lucknow 4.81 nashik 3.34 kanpur 1.72 list of tier-2
coimbatore 3.71
cities, rank
indore 2.74 mysore 1.72
among the Top
surat 2.81 bhopal 1.52 15 across
different levels
nashik 2.61

* the numbers reported are in percentage

68
key talent trends across energy & utility skills.
The average junior level hiring in tier-1 and tier-2 cities This role is critical to ensuring that the right space
(69.10% and 72.06%, respectively) has increased over planning is done (through optimal supply and
the last year’s averages (63.97% and 59.92%, respectively). production) for minimizing the consumption of energy
by buildings at all stages in their life cycle. The strong
The energy & utility industry’s high focus to leverage
demand at all levels is also indicative of a positive
the potential of the renewable energy sector calls for a
blend of domain and technology skills. Companies in career progression in this role.
this sector have taken the route of hiring junior talent The demand for supply/production/space planning
and skilling them to meet the growing demand. Among professionals is the highest in Chennai, Hyderabad and
Tier-1 cities, in Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR and Pune rank as Delhi-NCR among tier-1 cities across all levels — among
the top three locations for junior hiring. In Tier-2 cities, tier-2 cities, the demand is highest in Coimbatore,
Lucknow, Indore and Surat show strong hiring for Chandigarh, and Indore, across all levels.
junior level talent.
Other technical roles in transmission and distribution
Technical engineers take a commanding lead across all rank third in both junior (19.02%) and senior level hiring
levels — junior (34.16%), middle (33.43%) and senior (12.30%); in middle level hiring, it ranks a close fourth
level hiring (42.82%). (12.20%).
With their multi-dimensional skills of mechanical, Technical specialists in transmission and distribution
chemical, electrical, and environmental engineering, take on diverse and important responsibilities. They
technical engineers are in great demand in the energy manage and analyze interconnections, and design
and utility industry. Technical engineers are a vital cog in transmission systems.
designing and implementing systems for efficient energy
Uniformly across tier-1 cities, this role falls within the
generation in an environmentally friendly manner.
top three skills in demand. Among tier-2 cities, Jaipur,
The demand for technical engineer leads at all levels in Indore, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kochi show consistent
all tier-1 cities. In tier-2 cities it ranks among the top
demand for this skill across all levels.
three skills in demand.

Supply/production/space planning rises to a strong


second in all levels of hiring — junior (22.70%), middle
(17.16%), and senior (18.22%). India talent insights report 2024 | 69
The role of the Lead Maintenance Technician makes a very impressive resilience at reduced cost and adverse environmental impact. With
entry into all levels of hiring. It ranks third in the middle level (12.42%), India’s strong commitment to renewable energy, the demand for this
and fifth in both the junior (3.75%) and senior level (6.15%). role understandably falls within the top five to seven across all levels in
As the lead professional responsible for organizing and overseeing crew tier-1 cities, with a slightly greater demand in the junior and middle
teams, the Lead Maintenance Technician holds an important levels. In tier-2 cities, Chandigarh and Mohali show a progressive
responsibility in managing onsite teams. Required at all levels, this role increase in demand for the design engineer from the junior to the senior
shows good possibilities of career progression. levels. Vadodara, Indore, Bhopal and Surat show a healthy demand at
the junior and middle level.
Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bengaluru (among tier-1 cities) show a
strong demand for this skill. In tier-2 cities, the demand across levels is The demand for quality assurance specialists and electrical engineers
strong in Jaipur, Vadodara, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kochi. (who are an integral part of energy and utility plants) are concentrated at
the junior and middle levels in tier-1 and tier-2 cities. Coimbatore and
The demand for plant factory managers ranks fourth in both junior Indore, who have made great strides in the renewable energy sector,
(7.51%) and senior level hiring (11.85%) — in the middle level hiring, it show a strong demand for the quality assurance role at the senior and
stands a close fifth (11.67%). strategic level.
The plant factory manager in the energy industry is a versatile The roles of the welding specialist and the draughtsman make a fairly
professional, managing as s/he does the responsibilities of fabrication, visible entry across the junior and middle levels among the skills in
installation, manufacturing processes, quality assurance, procurement demand for the energy and utilities industry.
and plant maintenance. Its importance is evident in the consistent
demand it shows at all levels, which is a positive feature as far as career With specific reference to the energy and utilities industry, the welding
development is concerned. specialist ensures the safe and efficient joining of metal components
through various welding techniques. This is extremely critical, in the
Among tier-1 cities, Chennai and Bengaluru show a strong demand for
construction and maintenance of vital infrastructure such as pipelines,
this role at the middle and senior levels, while in Kolkata, Hyderabad,
power plants, and transmission towers. In tier-1 cities, their demand is
Pune, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, the demand is more at the junior and
restricted to the junior level, where they fall under the top 10 skills
middle levels. Vadodara and Chandigarh are the tier-2 cities that show a
in demand.
good demand for this role across all levels.
The draughtsman in the energy and utilities industry prepares drawings
The design engineer, quality assurance professional and the electrical engineer for mechanical services (eg. HVAC, plumbing, fire protection), and
are roles whose skills are positioned in the top ten skills in demand. coordinates with professionals from the structural, architectural,
electrical and interior design departments. Like the welding specialist,
Design engineers in the energy and utilities industry play an important
the demand is restricted to the junior level in both tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
role to efficiently generate maximum power with reliability and

India talent insights report 2024 | 70


energy & utilities job distribution by skills.
Senior level (>=15 years)
technical engineer 42.82

Middle level (6-14 years) supply/production/


space planning 18.22
technical engineer 33.43
Junior level (0-5 years) other technical roles: The roles of lead
supply/production/ t&d 12.30
space planning 17.16 maintenance
technical engineer 34.16
plant/factory manager 11.85 technician,
lead maintenance
supply/production/
technician 12.42
welding
space planning 22.70 lead maintenance
specialist and
technician 6.15
other technical roles:
other technical roles: draughtsman
t&d 12.20
t&d 19.02 general manager 3.64 make a visible
plant/factory manager 7.51
plant/factory manager 11.67 entry into the
design engineer 1.59
skills demand
design engineer 3.60
lead maintenance electrical engineer 0.91 list for the
technician 3.75
quality assurance 3.18 energy &
quality assurance 0.91
design engineer 3.68 utilities industry
assistant manager 1.96
assistant manager 0.46 this year
quality assurance 2.79
electrical engineer 0.96
electrical engineer 1.81
deputy manager 0.93
welding specialist 1.28

assistant manager 1.18

* the numbers reported are in percentage

71
the future talent landscape for energy & utilities.
India is ready to reshape its energy landscape and influence global This opens immense opportunities for economic and employment
energy policies and practices. In the coming years, India will not just growth. The talent demand will arise from three areas
be an energy consumer but will play a pivotal role in energy 1. Energy supply
innovation and sustainability.
2. Manufacture of energy equipment and infrastructure
The country has set in motion ambitious energy goals and charted
clear paths to achieving them. 3. Global capability centers for outsourcing of energy solutions
• The PLI scheme for solar and energy storage has led many Indian The scale of the opportunity that lies ahead holds the key to the skills
renewable energy companies and public sector entities to seek and roles that will be needed. IRENA’s World Energy Transition
partnerships with technology providers. It has also led a few U.S. Outlook (WETO) estimates that the majority of skills needed will be in
solar companies to establish offices in India. the energy transition and energy efficiency space. A smart strategy
• Large Indian energy companies like Reliance, Adani, Renew Power, would be to reskill and upskill the people in redundant roles in fossil
Avaada — as well as public sector entities like Coal India Ltd. and fuel areas for the needs of the clean energy sector. Many of the skills
NTPC Ltd — have shown interest in entering the clean energy space. (including nascent ones) featuring in our findings align to this future.
• Modernization of the national power grid, and the replacement of To bridge the talent gap, we need to reimagine our approach to
traditional electricity and gas meters with smart meters over the next skilling. Starting with an industry -driven academic curriculum, the
two years, will open the doors for smart grid and other innovations. learning should target for proficiency at different levels in the energy
• India aims to become an exporter of clean energy by 2047, value chain. Technology-led platforms will ensure learning at scale —
especially through green hydrogen. The National Hydrogen and this should be augmented by hands on experience in areas such
Mission, announced in 2022, aims to build a green hydrogen as operations, maintenance, plant management, quality and safety.
capacity of 5 million tons per annum by 2030.84 With our demographic dividend and resources, it is a once-in-a-time
• Plans to double the share of natural gas in the energy mix by 2030 opportunity for skills transformation in the Indian energy and utility
envisages the construction of additional LNG terminals industry. As they say, Carpe Diem!
• The annual market for stationary and mobile batteries is expected
to grow to $6 billion by 203085

84
hhttps://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/india-renewable-energy
85
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/india-renewable-energy

India talent insights report 2024 | 72


bold strokes on
the future talent canvas.
pointers for employers and talent
As the findings in our Talent Insights Report 2024 The Randstad India Talent Insights Report 2024 has
show, all major industries are at a major inflection been carefully compiled to deliver information and
point. Priorities have changed in the talent insights for both talent and job seekers as they step
management space, and these are aligned to the into an exciting future. Our analysis is designed to
far-reaching transformations in the business give employers data-driven information on talent
landscape. trends across locations, industries and experience
levels — so that they can restructure and reimagine
Today’s multi-generational workforce is not only
their talent and workforce models for optimized
highly talented but also demanding, and has greater
outcomes that work best for their workforce and
career options to chart their future. India Inc. has to
business. For employees and talent, we have
be prepared to drive multidimensional changes to
aimed to empower them with knowledge on job
address the aspiration of employees and talent — be it
opportunities across locations, industries, and levels
the locations where they will work from, the type work
of experience.
contracts they will choose, the continuous learning
and skilling for growth they will be imparted, and the We give below some recommendations based on the
flexibility they will be provided to experience positive findings of the report.
health and well-being.

India talent insights report 2024 | 73


our recommendations.
for employers for talent
Create and nurture a brand and culture that resonates with clear Step ahead with confidence in your career path, armed with
organizational values, and the aspirations of the right talent at the relevant skills
right locations

Be purposefully flexible in building the right blend of work models Look at opportunities across industries and locations that hold
and policies that are cognizant of physical and emotional promising outcomes for the future – and invest in skilling yourself
well-being of people to grasp them

Establish positive learning experiences in terms of training and Proactively put your hand up for opportunities that are nascent
certifications, on-the-job experience and career progression today, but hold promise for tomorrow

Drive opportunities for internal upward mobility through Be open to moving vertically and laterally — growth opportunities
restructured talent management programs. This will earn employee come from all directions
trust to give out their best in performance

Be confident of hiring junior level candidates, and skilling them to Be smart in your choice of locations – as this report shows, tier-2
meet your needs cities have become undeniable hotspots of career growth and
opportunities

Collaborate with academic institutions to design an industry-driven As you gain in experience, be intelligently flexible to possibilities
curriculum, and enhance employability of graduates stepping into that can elevate you in the right industry at the right locations
the corporate world

Optimize technology investments to create value for both the Keep an open mind in opting for location-agnostic models
organization and to retain the right talent of work

India talent insights report 2024 | 74


about randstad india: about randstad:
Randstad India is a leading talent company providing Randstad is a global talent leader with the vision to be the
services across four key specializations - operational world’s most equitable and specialized talent company.
talent solutions, professional talent solutions, digital As a partner for talent and through our four
talent solutions, and enterprise talent solutions. The specializations - Operational, Professional, Digital and
organization is committed to providing equitable Enterprise - we provide clients with the high-quality,
opportunities to people from all backgrounds and diverse and agile workforces that they need to succeed
helping them remain relevant in the rapidly changing in a talent scarce world. We help people secure
world of work. Randstad India has a deep understanding meaningful roles, develop relevant skills and find
of the labour market to help clients create high-quality, purpose and belonging in their workplace. Through the
diverse, and agile workforces they need to succeed. In value we create, we are committed to a better and more
the process, the organization helps talent secure sustainable future for all.
meaningful roles, develop relevant skills, and find
purpose and belonging in their workplace. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Randstad operates in
39 markets and has approximately 40,000 employees. In
Randstad India has been a leading player in the industry 2023, we supported 2 million talent to find work and
for more than 30 years and continues to deliver generated a revenue of €25.4 billion. Randstad N.V. is
innovative and specialized talent solutions to clients listed on the Euronext Amsterdam.
across sectors. Randstad is a global talent leader with the
vision to be the world’s most equitable and specialized For more information, see www.randstad.com
talent company, active in 39 markets across the globe.

For more information, see: www.randstad.in

disclaimer: Randstad has taken due care in compiling and processing the data available from various sources for the Randstad India Talent Insights 2024, but does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or
completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or action / decision taken or for the results obtained from the use of such information.

India talent insights report 2024 | 75


partner for talent.

For over 3 decades, Randstad India has been delivering


innovative and specialized talent services across four key
specializations - operational talent solutions, professional
talent solutions, digital talent solutions, and enterprise
talent solutions.

Randstad India has a deep understanding of the labour


market to help clients create high-quality, diverse, and
agile workforces they need to succeed.

for more information access our latest


website: www.randstad.in thought leadership reports

India talent insights report 2024 | 76


your
thoughts,
let’s start a conversation.

media inquiries
Manjulakshmi P
manjulakshmi.p@randstad.in
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arnab.ray@randstad.in

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krithi.hegde@randstad.in

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