December 11, 2023: Kolkata emerged as the leading metro city showing growth in hiring, mentions a Blue Collar Hiring Tracker (BHT) report by Indeed, a global hiring and matching platform. Following closely behind, Pune and Chandigarh have emerged as the top Tier-2 cities displaying substantial progress in employment opportunities.
As per the report, the blue-collar workforce saw a rise of 7.40% in hiring in 2023. Logistics, construction and real estate and tourism and hospitality emerged as the top sectors for lucrative job opportunities.
Several factors, including the growth of SMBs, urbanisation, infrastructure development, expansion of the service sector and a cost-effective labour market, are contributing to the thriving job growth in these cities.
Top sectors and cities and percentage growth
| Sector | Metro Cities | ||
| Logistics | 8% | Kolkata | 9% |
| Construction & Real Estate | 8% | Mumbai | 8% |
| Tourism and hospitality | 8% | Bangalore | 8% |
GenZ talent and Millennial candidates
In 2023, blue-collar employers looked for GenZ talent, while white-collar sought millennial candidates- 49% of blue-collar employers leaned towards hiring GenZ candidates (aged below 26), while 41% of white-collar employers sought out millennial recruits (aged 27-41).
The report mentioned that the inclination displayed by blue-collar employers could be in response to rising automation and the resultant requirement for a digital-savvy workforce. At the same time, a younger workforce is also more adept at manually heavy tasks due to their higher physical endurance.
Both digital literacy (27%) and physical strength (83%) are also among the primary hard and soft skills that employers aspire for while hiring. Conversely, the preference for millennial recruits by white-collar employers suggests a nuanced approach to tasks that may require experience and refined skill sets.
Desired skill-set
Other hard skills that employers prioritise include driving (53%), knowledge and operation of machines equipment (33%), while soft skills include teamwork (79%) and communication (79%).
The top three sectors that exhibited significant hiring trends including logistics, construction and real estate and tourism and hospitality, also had teamwork and communication emerging as the foremost skills essential for successful work execution and collaboration.
Entry-level positions: Highest volume of hiring
The report stated that 2023 presented a promising landscape for newcomers as employers hired the most for entry-level positions. Employers across industries are showing interest in recruiting individuals who are at the initial stages of their career journeys, thus indicating that individuals with different skill sets and educational backgrounds have avenues for employment. This investment might indicate a proactive approach to securing and training future professionals and skilled workers within their respective industries.
Employers embracing next-generation technologies
The report findings showed that employers are ready to embrace next-generation technologies. While 42% of the employers indicated their interest in commencing integration with AI by taking small steps in 2024, 19% of the employers conveyed that they have already put them into effect. This transition towards technological adaptation signifies that a substantial proportion of employers are increasingly leveraging AI’s capabilities to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and innovate in their respective fields.
Sashi Kumar, head of sales at Indeed India, stated, “2023 showcased substantial hiring growth, especially in Tier-2 cities. Looking to 2024, organizations embracing new tech emphasize the need for upskilling among job seekers for a brighter future.”
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