More than three in five employers (64%) in the sector are expanding their workforce in response to growing demand, as per TeamLease Services’ Employment Outlook Report for H1 FY25. With the sector poised to grow 8-10% annually, this revival is indicative of a broader industry recovery.
Another 19% report reductions and 17% forecast no change in the size of their workforce.
Hiring momentum is propelled further by expanding domestic travel and tech-enabled services such as AI-driven personalised guest experiences and ghost kitchens.
Additionally, adaptive strategies such as off-season travel incentives and premium travel experiences have been key levers to the sector’s growth.
Kartik Narayan, chief executive of staffing, TeamLease Services, said, “The rising demand for premium travel experiences, coupled with innovations in technology, is creating catalytic impact on how the industry operates”.“As travellers embrace digital platforms, companies are focusing on roles that enhance customer experience, positioning the sector as a major employment generator in the coming years,” he added.With employers actively hiring in Delhi (58%), Mumbai (57%) and Bengaluru (55%), workforce expansion is taking off in key cities.
New hiring hotspots include Bengaluru at 16%, with emerging job markets being represented by Pune and Chennai at 12% each.
With more than four out of five employers (82%) prioritising sales, roles in this domain are in the highest demand in the travel and hospitality sector.
“Our data shows that employers are ramping up their hiring efforts, particularly in customer service, sales and operations roles, which are set to account for 30-40% of new jobs over the next year,” said Balasubramanian A, business head at TeamLease Services.
As more than two in five (44%) employers focus on digital and offline promotion efforts to capture new opportunities, marketing roles also remain pivotal.
Moreover, with gig work participation expected to increase to 15-20% by the end of 2025, there’s an increased reliance on seasonal hires, with a 25-30% bump in seasonal hiring projected during peak travel.
Additionally , with faith-based travel gaining traction across regions, religious and spiritual tourism will add to job creation. Especially for personalised tech-driven experiences, solo travel is contributing to the hiring boom, resulting in increased roles centred on AI-driven platforms, data analytics and digital marketing.
“This hiring uptick aligns with the sector’s anticipated growth trajectory, and with government initiatives like UDAN making air travel more accessible, we expect even more roles in airlines, airports and related travel services,” Balasubramanian said.