NewKerala.com

India's Hiring Boom: Record 68% Employers Plan to Hire in April-June Quarter

Hiring intentions among Indian employers have surged to a record high of 68% for the April-June 2026 quarter, marking a significant quarterly and yearly increase. The finance and insurance sector shows the strongest intent, while the automotive industry is expected to create the most jobs. Despite robust confidence, a staggering 82% of organizations report difficulty finding skilled talent. The report also highlights widespread AI adoption, with 87% of Indian companies using it in hiring or training.

Key Points: India's Hiring Outlook Hits Record High for Q2 2026

  • Record 68% net employment outlook
  • Finance sector strongest at 71%
  • Automotive to see largest job additions
  • 82% of firms face talent shortage
  • 87% using AI in hiring processes
2 min read

Employers' hiring outlook jumps to record 68 pc for April-June in India: Report

Indian employers show strongest-ever hiring intent at 68% for April-June 2026, with finance and auto sectors leading job creation amid talent scarcity.

"Employment intent remains strong... while talent scarcity continues to intensify - Sandeep Gulati, ManpowerGroup"

New Delhi, March 10

Hiring intentions among Indian employers strengthened sharply for the second quarter of 2026, with the net employment outlook rising to its highest level on record, a report showed on Tuesday.

According to an analysis by ManpowerGroup, the NEO for Q2 (April-June) stood at 68 per cent, up 17 percentage points from the previous quarter and 24 points higher year-on-year (YoY).

The report said businesses are also benefiting from tax reforms under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and robust economic growth expectations for 2026.

The report also stated that the finance and insurance sectors recorded the strongest hiring outlook at 71 per cent, rising 8 points from the previous quarter and 26 points YoY.

The utilities and natural resources sector saw the largest quarterly improvement, with the outlook rising 22 points, its highest level in four years since Q4 2021.

On the other end, hospitality reported the most cautious hiring outlook at 31 per cent.

In terms of absolute job creation, the automotive sector is expected to see the largest net addition to headcount, followed by information technology and IT services.

"The India data from the Q2 MEOS and 2026 Global Talent Shortage Report presents a dual reality. Employment intent remains strong (NEO - 68 per cent), reflecting growing employer confidence, while talent scarcity continues to intensify, with 82 per cent of organisations reporting difficulty finding the skills they need," said Sandeep Gulati, Managing Director of ManpowerGroup India and the Middle East.

The report also highlighted that the North region reported the strongest hiring outlook, with an NEO of 70, rising 12 points quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) and 26 points YoY.

The East saw the sharpest quarterly improvement, with expectations rising 20 points. The region's outlook reached its highest level in more than a decade, since Q3 2012, the report said.

Across company sizes, employers remain optimistic, with all six organisation-size categories expecting staffing increases. The most optimistic outlook was reported by large organisations employing 250-999 workers, with an NEO of 71, up 15 points from the previous quarter.

The report also found that about 87 per cent of organisations said they are already using AI in hiring, onboarding or training employees.

"Across the Asia-Pacific region, AI adoption stands at 80 per cent, with the highest usage reported in China at 95 per cent, followed by India," the report said.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While the numbers look good, the real challenge is the "talent scarcity" mentioned. 82% of companies can't find the right skills! Our education system needs to catch up with industry demands. More focus on practical, job-ready training is needed, not just degrees.
S
Sarah B
Interesting to see the East region (Bengal, Odisha etc.) showing the sharpest improvement. If this trend continues, it could really help in spreading economic growth beyond the usual metros. The utilities sector revival is also a positive sign for infrastructure development.
R
Rohit P
Automotive sector creating the most jobs is great for manufacturing! But the hospitality sector outlook at 31% is worrying. After the pandemic, this sector needs more support. Tourism is a huge opportunity for India.
M
Michael C
87% of orgs using AI in hiring is a huge number. While it can make processes efficient, I hope it doesn't lead to algorithmic bias. Human judgment is still crucial, especially in a diverse country like India where resumes can be very non-standard.
K
Kavya N
As a recent graduate, this gives me hope! 🎓 Finance and IT sectors leading is expected. But companies need to be willing to train freshers. You can't always expect "ready-made" talent. The large companies (250-999 employees) seem most optimistic, that's a good sign.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50