Amid a big shift happening in the India jobs scene, with small cities and towns seeing a remarkable increase in hiring, job openings in tier-2 cities rose by nearly 42%, far surpassing the 19% increase noted in tier-1 cities, ToI reported on June 9 citing the Randstad Talent Insights Report 2025. This growth signals a broader trend towards decentralised economic development, as opportunities extend beyond traditional urban centres.

The surge in job openings in tier-2 cities highlights a significant shift in India's employment landscape. As these cities evolve into prominent talent hubs, the future looks promising for job seekers across the country, ToI's report (by Rupali Mukherjee) said.

The report, covering data from September 2024 to February 2025, examines six important industries: banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), manufacturing and automotive, IT, pharma, healthcare and life sciences (PHL), retail, and energy and utilities.

Anjali Raghuvanshi, chief people officer at Randstad India, said, "Our report indicates that tier-1 cities maintain a robust hiring outlook across all surveyed sectors. More interestingly, tier-2 and 3 cities are rapidly gaining ground, emerging as hiring hotspots, thus reflecting the vast potential and widespread distribution of talent across the country."

Key highlights

Among the tier-1 cities, Bengaluru leads in talent demand, showcasing a higher volume of hiring across various sectors and experience levels. Mumbai continues to establish itself as a key player, particularly in the energy and utilities sector.

In the tier-2 category, Chandigarh has made a significant leap, experiencing increased hiring across multiple industries. Other cities like Gandhinagar and Aurangabad have also entered the rankings, while Vadodara has reported impressive gains in demand, particularly within the energy and utilities, PHL, and automotive sectors.

In-Demand Roles

The BFSI sector remains a stronghold for job seekers, with investment banking, business operations, and business analyst roles topping the list of in-demand positions. A new addition to the skill set in high demand is the role of a cyber fraud analyst, reflecting the rise in digital security concerns.

In manufacturing and automotive, roles such as production managers, supply chain professionals, and operations management specialists continue to dominate hiring trends.