India’s upcoming festive season is expected to bring a fresh hiring push, with 2.5 lakh to 2.7 lakh temporary and gig jobs likely to be created across consumer-facing industries, according to a report by Adecco India. The report estimates that festive hiring could rise 15-20% year-on-year in 2026, building on the strong demand seen during last year’s festive period.
E-commerce, logistics, quick commerce, organized retail and banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) are expected to account for much of the additional workforce demand as companies prepare for higher customer activity during the festive shopping season.
One notable trend this year is the growing contribution from smaller cities. Around 45% of workforce demand is expected to come from tier-II and tier-III cities, including Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur and Coimbatore. Growing e-commerce penetration, organized retail and rising consumer spending are supporting hiring in these markets.
At the same time, major urban centers such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are facing a different challenge. These tier-I markets are reporting a sharper talent crunch, with workforce shortages linked to greater employee mobility and the rising preference for flexible gig work.
The increase in demand is also expected to push up temporary wages. Adecco estimated that wages could increase by 12-15% in metropolitan markets, while temporary workers in tier-II and tier-III cities may see increases of around 8-10%.
For employers, however, finding enough workers could remain a challenge. Around 80% of companies surveyed are experiencing shortages in frontline and operational roles, with Adecco estimating a 10-15% gap between workforce demand and availability during the peak hiring period.
The seasonal hiring wave is expected to focus largely on operational positions rather than creating entirely new job categories. Retail sales associates, customer support representatives, field sales executives, merchandisers, and manufacturing operators are expected to remain among the most sought-after profiles.
The growing importance of digital commerce is also changing what employers expect from temporary workers. Companies are increasingly looking for candidates with digital literacy, adaptability, and strong communication skills. Multilingual workers who can communicate in languages such as Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi are also expected to have an advantage in customer-facing roles.
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The festive hiring cycle may also offer workers a route into more permanent employment. According to the report, nearly 25% of seasonal associates could transition into longer-term assignments after the peak period.
That makes festive hiring more significant than a short-term response to higher demand. For businesses, it provides additional manpower during one of the busiest periods of the year, while for workers, temporary positions can offer a pathway into India’s organized workforce.