Flexible work hours and career advancement opportunities are the main priorities for India’s white-collar workforce, according to the latest Indeed Hiring Tracker. Indeed, a job finding portal, has revealed in a report that the July-September 2024 quarter saw 42 per cent of job seekers looking for a new job.
The data has resulted in a 10 per cent increase in hiring activity, with close to 80 per cent of employers actively recruiting to fill critical roles and adapt to evolving workforce expectations. The data reflects a dual transformation: while businesses focus on service expansion and digital innovation, job seekers are prioritizing flexibility, better pay, and growth opportunities in their career decisions.
For job seekers, flexibility has become a non-negotiable factor when choosing new roles. Interestingly, employers, eager to attract and retain top talent, are transforming traditional work models to meet these demands. This shift signals more than a hiring surge — it marks the emergence of a workforce that values balance and adaptability as much as career growth and compensation.
A total of 42 per cent of job seekers cited flexible working hours as a key reason for exploring new opportunities. Better pay (56 per cent) and career advancement (47 per cent) also play pivotal roles, but flexibility now rivals these priorities.
Interestingly, in the white collar segment, IT remains a primary area of focus, with 27 per cent of employers hiring in this field. Sales roles are also in high demand (23 per cent), as well as positions in production and manufacturing (19 per cent). Specialised roles are seeing increased attention, with data analysts (25 per cent), project managers (19 per cent), and sales and marketing managers (18 per cent) among the most sought-after positions.
Similarly, data analysis leads the demand for tech skills, with 35 per cent of employers actively hiring for roles involving SQL, Excel, and Python expertise. Cybersecurity is another high-priority area, with 29 per cent of employers seeking specialists in encryption and network security. As digital services expand, protecting sensitive data has become a top concern. Cloud computing skills are also in demand, with 23 per cent of companies hiring professionals with expertise in platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP to manage and optimise digital infrastructure.
Soft skills are also playing a key role in jobs now. Teamwork and collaboration (57 per cent) are the most valued, followed by communication skills (51 per cent), and critical thinking and problem-solving abilities (43 per cent).
