According to the report, the demand for temporary staff during the current holiday season is projected to be between 250,000 and 270,000 jobs. The main sectors driving this demand are e-commerce, logistics, express delivery, organized retail, and financial services (BFSI).
Adecco India expects that the hiring of temporary and gig workers during the 2026 holiday season will increase by 15–20% compared to the previous year, building on a strong base of 216,000 jobs created in the organized sector last year.
Dipesh Gupta, Director and Head of General Hiring at Adecco India, noted that despite a more complex global business environment, the intention to hire remains steady this year. He added that domestic consumption continues to support demand in retail, e-commerce, logistics, and other consumer sectors; however, employers are exercising greater caution due to geopolitical events, energy price volatility, changing global trade dynamics, and uncertainty in export-oriented industries.
The report also showed that about 45% of the workforce needs this year will fall in second and third-tier cities such as Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, and Coimbatore. This is attributed to the expansion of e-commerce reach, the growth of organized retail, and increased consumption in these markets.
Meanwhile, first-tier cities, including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad, are experiencing the sharpest labor shortage—30%. Higher workforce mobility and a growing preference for gig work are complicating recruitment and retention processes.
Temporary wages are expected to rise by 12–15% in metropolitan markets and by 8–10% in second and third-tier regions. Analysis of demand profiles showed that this year's hiring is focused less on new job categories and more on scaling critical operational roles.
Retail and BFSI-related positions remain central for hiring, including retail sales associates, customer support representatives, field sales managers, merchandisers, and production operators. This is because companies are investing in faster order fulfillment and improved customer experience.
Employers are increasingly seeking candidates proficient in multiple languages such as Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi, who possess digital skills and are comfortable in customer-facing and operational roles. Adaptability, digital literacy, and strong communication skills are becoming key factors in hiring across retail, logistics, BFSI, and e-commerce.
Despite optimistic hiring forecasts, labor availability remains a challenge: approximately 80% of employers are facing staff shortages in front-line and operational roles during this holiday season. Adecco estimates a supply-demand gap of 10–15% during the peak hiring period.
Furthermore, nearly 25% of seasonal employees are expected to transition to long-term contracts, highlighting the growing role of holiday employment as an entry point into India's organized workforce.