Job postings on Indeed rose 1.6% in February 2026 from January, extending a strong run to stand 7.0% above year‑ago levels and 87% higher than pre‑pandemic benchmarks, though still 14% off the January 2023 peak. “India appears to be creating more than enough jobs to support their ongoing economic transformation,” said Callam Pickering, Senior Economist at Indeed Hiring Lab APAC, with the official unemployment rate steady at 5%. As small businesses accelerate into formal employment—a trend outpacing overall job growth—India’s labour market demonstrates superior resilience compared to global peers amid Middle East conflicts and inflationary pressures.
Infrastructure and Engineering Lead Broad‑Based Gains
Postings increased across nearly three‑quarters of occupations in the past three months, with standout performers including IT infrastructure, operations and support (+32%), mechanical engineering (+30%), logistics support (+30%), and pharmacy (+15%). Declines were limited to community and social services (-14.6%), beauty and wellness (-5.9%), administrative assistance (-5.6%), and childcare (-5.3%), underscoring employers’ focus on core operational and delivery roles amid capex upcycles.
The breadth of gains reflects sustained momentum from late 2025 into early 2026, Pickering noted in analysis shared with SME Venture.
Remote Work Stabilises Amid Evolving Preferences
References to “work from home” or “remote” appeared in 8.9% of postings, unchanged from 9% a year earlier but a recovery from mid‑2024 lows of 7.2%. Highest incidence was in social sciences (17.9%), community services (14.7%), and IT operations (14.3%). Year‑over‑year shifts showed gains in social sciences (+7.7 percentage points), sports (+5.2 pp), and insurance (+3.9 pp), offset by drops in software development (-3.0 pp) and medical information (-2.4 pp)—patterns tied to return‑to‑office mandates and talent competition.
Formalisation Shields Against External Shocks
The ongoing shift of SMBs to formal roles has propelled India through both post‑pandemic hiring booms and slowdowns more effectively than comparable markets. “The Indian economy will face some stiff economic headwinds this year… but is relatively well placed to absorb that hit,” Pickering cautioned, citing geopolitical risks.
With unemployment at 5%, policymakers and business leaders point to formalisation as a Viksit Bharat pillar, formal jobs growing faster than total employment.
