While several global business giants have joined the row to freeze hiring amid the recession fear, the festive season shows an upward tick in terms of hiring sentiments. In two different studies conducted by TeamLease and Avsar, findings prove that hiring of gig workers is witnessing a rise.

Talent management platform Avsar found that  the demand for a gig workforce has increased by 66%, especially ahead of the festive season. The major reason for this trend is the increased demand for jobs induced by the booming market. To fulfill this need, the hiring of the gig workforce has also spiked.  

According to the study, the highest surge has been observed in the e-commerce sector at about 300%. Meanwhile, HealthTech experienced a 250% hike, FinTech grew by 200%, and e-commerce increased by 198%. Various Indian marketing and sales firms are hiring for business development, field sales, digital promotions, etc. 

Commenting on the study findings, Navneet Singh, CEO of Avsar, said, “From what the survey reveals and what we can foresee is that the prevailing gig culture in India is growing. It is gaining traction due to the various benefits the concept offers. The gig working model is advantageous for people who want flexibility and are unable to work in a full-time job. Furthermore, it helps professionals generate extra income and eventually plays a vital role in growing the economy.”

Compared to 2021, there has been rapid growth in 2022, especially in tier-2 and 3 cities. As much as various full-time employment opportunities are available, the gig mode of employment is also preferred by many. Consequently, there has been a 15% growth from 2021 in the workforce opting to work in the market. While all the sectors experience a significant hike, sales and marketing fields witness the maximum growth in gig opportunities. 

In fact, the blue-collar workforce, including welders, electricians, mechanics, construction workers, etc., opts for gig jobs over full-time work commitments. Additionally, IT professionals prefer working as a gig workforce to increase their skill sets and gather experience.  

TeamLease, in its study, found that E-commerce businesses alone have already added 3 lakh jobs this festive season, likely to add more than 5 lakh jobs till Diwali – the positive impact is extending to the logistics sector as well. 

Post two years of the pandemic, the festive season is witnessing more rigor this year than usual. E-commerce companies have seen a 30% increase in sales and to meet growing consumer demand, they have also ramped up their workforce. Close to 3 lakh new jobs have been created so far and more than 5 lakh jobs will be further added till Diwali. The demand for gig workforce is not just restricted to Tier I locations, but also Tier II and Tier III cities where the demand has surged by 40%.

Apart from the high mandate for delivery agents; Quick-commerce, QSRs, retail stores, and FMCG, FOS (Foots-on-the-Street) salesmen are the most in demand roles. Interestingly, hiring in the logistics domain has also increased as ecommerce companies are trying to crunch their delivery timelines. In fact, there is a 30% surge and the fast growing 3PL (third party logistics) segment is expected to add 8 lakh jobs by December 2022.

Ecommerce companies are taking cohesive steps to tackle the costs for managing their delivery fleet. India is a low-margin market, where there are currently about 3-4 Lakh people working as delivery executives. For start-ups, 50% of the expenses come from managing the biker fleet.