Report: Festive season hiring may create up to 2.7 lakh gig jobs in 2026

India’s festive season is shaping up to be a strong opportunity for short-term employment and flexible work, with a new outlook suggesting a meaningful increase in hiring across the organised sector. Talent company Adecco India expects temporary and gig hiring for the 2026 festive season to grow by 15–20% year-on-year, building on what it describes as a strong base last year.

As per the report, the 2025 festive season is estimated to have created around 2.16 lakh jobs across the organised sector. With a projected 15–20% rise in 2026, this year’s festive demand could translate into as many as 2.7 lakh gig and temporary roles.

The outlook is encouraging for jobseekers who prefer flexibility, as well as for businesses that need to scale up quickly during peak demand. For India’s startup ecosystem—especially consumer-facing and logistics-led ventures—seasonal staffing is also a way to manage growth efficiently while maintaining service levels.

What the report indicates Adecco India’s expectations point to a continued expansion in seasonal hiring, supported by sustained consumer demand and business readiness for peak-season operations. Festive periods typically see a surge in activity in categories such as retail, last-mile delivery, customer support and warehousing—areas where temporary staffing can provide a rapid, practical solution.

While the report does not break down roles by city or industry, the overall estimate signals that organised-sector employers are preparing early to meet festive season requirements. In the current job market, where many people value predictable work hours, quick onboarding and short-term commitments, gig roles can provide an accessible entry point.

For many workers, these opportunities can support incremental income and skill-building. For businesses, seasonal staffing can reduce operational stress during high-volume weeks and improve turnaround times and customer experience.

Why this matters for startups and the organised sector Seasonal hiring is increasingly relevant for startups that operate in fast-moving, demand-sensitive sectors. During festive peaks, startups and digitally enabled businesses often see sharp changes in order volumes and service expectations. Temporary staffing becomes a lever to ensure that growth does not come at the cost of delivery timelines, response times or quality.

The projected year-on-year growth of 15–20% also reflects a broader shift in how companies approach workforce planning—mixing full-time teams with flexible staffing models. For startups, this hybrid approach can help optimise costs while enabling scale.

For workers, an expanding festive hiring pipeline can open pathways into the organised sector, even when the job is short-term. It can also offer exposure to structured processes, new tools and customer-facing experience that may be useful for future roles.

At a macro level, higher festive hiring can contribute to momentum in consumption-linked sectors and support local economic activity. When businesses hire more hands for peak season, it can help improve service reliability and enable quicker fulfillment—an important factor in maintaining customer confidence during the busiest shopping period of the year.

What jobseekers can prepare for With early indications of stronger seasonal demand, jobseekers can benefit from preparing in advance. Roles linked to delivery operations, inventory handling, frontline sales and support often require basic digital comfort, clear communication and an ability to work in shifts.

Candidates may consider keeping key documents ready, updating profiles on relevant platforms and being open to short-term assignments that can lead to repeat seasonal work. For those seeking to build experience, festive roles can be a practical way to demonstrate performance in high-pressure environments.

Employers, meanwhile, may focus on faster screening and onboarding processes, clear shift planning and fair workplace practices to attract and retain seasonal talent.

**Why it matters:** If the projection holds, up to 2.7 lakh festive-season gig jobs could provide flexible income opportunities for workers and help startups and organised-sector companies scale smoothly during peak demand—supporting better customer service and a stronger consumption cycle.