Job postings in the healthcare sector declined 6.2%, yet job applications jumped 32.6% during the financial year, suggesting increased competition for fewer roles.
Even as hiring slowed, minimum salaries across healthcare roles increased 6%, with experienced professionals seeing an even sharper 8.3% increase, as per the report.
“The sharp rise in minimum salaries reflects growing formalisation and standardisation in hiring practices, a positive sign for entry-level job seekers,” said Nilesh Dungarwal, chief executive of WorkIndia.
Lab technicians and medical roles led the pack with a 13% increase in minimum pay.
In contrast, the highest salaries offered across roles fell by 10%, indicating that companies prioritised cost control at senior levels while making entry-level positions more financially attractive.“However, the drop in maximum salaries indicates that companies are becoming more conscious of compensation at senior levels, focusing on operational efficiencies amidst rising talent supply,” said Dungarwal.Hiring patterns also shifted significantly. Job postings open to both freshers and experienced candidates surged 216%, while those for freshers alone dropped 79%. This suggests a clear employer tilt toward candidates with at least some prior experience or skills, even for junior roles.
Educational requirements changed too. Postings for candidates with education below 10th grade declined across most roles, with the exception of ward boys, one of the few categories where demand increased 7.5%.
Among healthcare verticals, the chemist industry stood out with a 190% surge in job postings, making it one of the fastest-growing areas for employment.
Meanwhile, hiring for roles such as counselling, lab technicians and ward boys saw moderation.
Positions such as staff nurses, pharmacists, patient care assistants and dental assistants continued to draw both employer interest and applicant volume.
The report drew on data from WorkIndia’s own platform. The analysis is based on a sample of 2.4 million job applications and 73,000 job postings.