Reasons for hiring
He says businesses are anticipated to take advantage of this holiday season through December by launching new products and promotions. The e-commerce sector, in particular, is poised for a major surge in sales, driving the need for extra workforce and leading to an uptick in both temporary and permanent hires.
These jobs will cover various supply chain roles, including warehouse staff, inventory managers, logistics coordinators, kirana partners and delivery drivers. As a result, it is anticipated that on days of peak demand from customers, the demand for gig delivery riders on rapid commerce platforms will increase by 30%. Additional key drivers for increased hiring include consumer spending, seasonal business needs, economic indicators and industry-specific trends.
Are these roles temporary or permanent?
Alug estimates that of these new roles, around 70% will be temporary to meet the seasonal demand, while 30% are likely to be permanent, offering more stable, long-term positions. The gig economy, in particular, is projected to experience a notable rise in female participation in the workforce, with a 35% increase. Women are increasingly drawn to the flexibility and variety of roles available in the gig economy, including brand advocacy, beauty and grooming, online tutoring, domestic help, cab driving and food delivery. Overall, the festive season presents a promising outlook for job seekers, especially women looking for flexible and varied employment opportunities. “Roles such as delivery drivers, customer service representatives, tech support specialists, and freelance designers are expected to experience the highest demand. Salaries for these positions, currently ranging between Rs 12,000 and Rs 16,000, are projected to rise by 10-20% over the next 3-4 months, driven by the surge in demand,” he adds.
Skill gaps in gig roles
TeamLease Edtech estimates the need for 1 million gig workers and 250,000 contract workers across sectors this festive season. But there is a persistent skill gap, says its report, Gig Economy Skills. About 42.86% of employers covered in the report identified a lack of industry-specific knowledge as the primary deficiency, pointing to a need for specialised skills in certain sectors.
Jaideep Kewalramani, Head of Employability Business and COO, TeamLease Edtech, says, “On the ground, we often see that while gig workers are tech-savvy, they face challenges in managing client interactions and adapting to the dynamic needs of multiple projects. With the festive season ramping up, their ability to improve communication and problem-solving skills will play a crucial role. Success in the gig economy is a combination of many factors, including tech proficiency, communication skills, time management and adaptability.”
In fact, the report has said that 28.57% of employers cited soft skills, including communication, teamwork and problem-solving, as another critical gap. These skills are essential for gig workers, who frequently manage multiple clients and projects simultaneously.
Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech, says, “As demand surges, especially during peak periods like the festive season, it’s clear that gig workers must develop industry-specific knowledge to remain competitive. By strengthening their skills, they are not only filling current gaps but also preparing for the future of work, where adaptability will be the key driver of success.”
In the short term, the good news is that demand is broad based. Alug estimates that major metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata have seen a 15% rise in seasonal hiring compared with last year, while tier 2 cities like Nagpur, Jaipur, Vadodara, Kochi, Vizag, Madurai, Lucknow, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Indore, Coimbatore, Surat, Bhubaneswar and Bhopal are experiencing an even stronger growth ranging from 20% to 25%.