Strong Hiring Sentiments Mark Q1 2025: Manpower Group
India ranks first globally for its employment outlook, exceeding the global average by 15 points in the Net Employment Outlook for the first quarter of 2025
Employers in India foresee a robust employment outlook in Q1 2025, according to the latest ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) Employment Outlook Survey.
The survey, which gathered data from more than 3,000 employers across various regions of India, reveals that 53% of employers plan to hire, while 13% anticipate a decrease in their staffing levels in the Q1 2025. Meanwhile, 31% do not expect any change. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) after seasonal adjustment is +40%, strengthening by 3 percentage points from both last quarter and year over year.
Used internationally as a bellwether of labor market trends, the NEO is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers who anticipate reductions in staffing levels from those who plan to hire.
“India remains one of the world’s fastest growing large economies, with its position as the global leader in employment outlook for Q1 2025 highlighting the confidence of employers in the country’s economic trajectory,” said Sandeep Gulati, Managing Director, ManpowerGroup India and Middle East. “Significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI), along with public funding has benefitted the IT sector’s employment market, resulting in the sector leading with an Outlook of 50%. With strong contributions from Financials and Real Estate, and year-on-year growth across all regions, India’s job market continues to reflect resilience and adaptability amid an uncertain global landscape. Larger organizations are driving this momentum, signaling sustained opportunities for talent across the country.”
Mr. Gulati further stated, “Investment from MNC’s looking to reduce their operation costs appears to be benefitting India, and the outlook for 2025 looks more positive. Economic growth is likely to pick up with increasing consumer spending as inflation potentially subsides, and agricultural output is likely to improve after favorable monsoon conditions. In this mixed environment, India’s employment expectations are expected to grow slightly.”
KEY FINDINGS FROM THE Q4 SURVEY
Employers in IT (+50%), Consumer Goods & services (+40%), Energy & Utilities (+38%), Health Care & Life Sciences (+38%), Transport and Logistics & Automotive (+36%) and Communication Services (+30%) have shown a growth, when compared to Q4 2024. Industrials and Materials sees a slight decrease, reporting a NEO of (+35%). The Financial and Real Estate Industry, while having the second-highest outlook (+44%) is down by 3% compared to the previous quarter.
The strongest outlook among the regions comes from West India (+43%) increasing by 4% from the previous quarter, closely followed by East India (+41%) which saw a considerable rise of 11% during the same period.
