E-commerce, Healthcare Lead Hiring in India; Digital Skills in High Demand: Report
New Delhi, March 25, 2026 – India’s e-commerce and healthcare sectors are driving hiring activity in the first half of FY 2026–27, while digital skills remain in high demand across industries, according to a report by TeamLease Services.The report noted that e-commerce and tech startups are leading hiring demand with a net employment change (NEC) of 8.9%, followed by healthcare and pharmaceuticals (7%) and manufacturing, engineering, and infrastructure (6.6%).
Overall hiring sentiment is improving, with the projected NEC rising to 4.7%, up from 4.4% and 2.8% in the previous two half-year periods. Around 58% of employers plan to expand their workforce during this period.
In terms of skills, digital literacy tops the list with 77% demand, followed by customer experience management (68%) and communication skills (61%), reflecting the ongoing push toward digital transformation and customer-centric strategies.
Large enterprises are leading hiring momentum, with 74% planning expansion, compared to 57% of mid-sized firmsand 38% of small businesses.
On the compensation front, electric vehicle (EV) and EV infrastructure roles are expected to see the highest salary growth at 10.5%, followed by fintech (9.9%) and healthcare (9.7%).
Function-wise, hiring demand is strongest in sales and marketing roles (54%), followed by IT (40%) and finance (39%), indicating a focus on revenue growth, digital adoption, and regulatory compliance.
Geographically, hiring activity remains concentrated in major urban centres, with Bengaluru leading at 67.9% employer expansion intent, followed by Hyderabad (57.8%) and Pune (56.1%). Mumbai and Chennai are also witnessing steady hiring momentum.
The report highlights that policy support, capital expenditure, and supply chain realignment continue to underpin job growth across sectors.
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