Bengaluru, 17th June 2025: India’s e-commerce and tech startup sectors are showing signs of steady recovery, with hiring picking up again after a prolonged funding slowdown. According to the Employment Outlook Report (EOR) for HY1 (April–September FY 26) by TeamLease Services, 69% of employers in these industries plan to increase their workforce in the first half of FY 25-26. This growth is being driven by a renewed momentum in AI-driven product scaling, growth marketing, and cloud-native engineering.
Kartik_Narayan
According to the report, the Net Employment Change (NEC) for the e-commerce and tech startup sector is projected at +6.9% for the first half of FY25–26. The sector continues to rank among the top three in job creation, alongside the electric vehicle (7.1%) and automotive industries (+6.9%). The expansion is being driven largely by platform-first, B2C, and D2C startups that are prioritising operational efficiency and sustainable unit economics.
In the e-commerce and tech startup space, hiring is centred around high-impact technology and product roles. The report shows a strong demand for DevOps engineers, Product managers, and Full-stack developers. These roles reflect a clear transition in the industry from scale-at-any-cost hiring to more value-driven workforce strategies. At the same time, companies are preparing to meet evolving digital consumption patterns by building agile teams that can deliver faster innovation and better customer experiences.
Despite a more cautious funding landscape, hiring intent in the sector remains the strongest across all industries surveyed. About 12% of companies plan to reduce headcount, mainly in post-Series A and B firms focused on cost control and runway management. On the other hand, only 19% expect no change, indicating a gradual return of business confidence and hiring momentum.
Geographically, Bengaluru leads with 30% of the planned hiring, followed by Mumbai at 25% and Chennai at 23%. These cities remain the key hubs for startups due to their talent base and established digital ecosystems.
Looking at job functions, 73% of the new roles are expected in sales and marketing, followed by 63% in information technology, and 50% in blue-collar jobs. The high share of tech and customer-facing roles reflects how companies are focusing on building better products and reaching users more effectively. Blue-collar jobs, especially in logistics and fulfilment, continue to support e-commerce growth at the ground level.
Kartik Narayan, CEO-Staffing, TeamLease Services, said, “Despite a cautious macro environment, we’re witnessing a clear shift in how India’s tech startups approach growth and talent. The focus is moving away from aggressive expansion to building sustainable, value-driven business models. This is reflected in the way companies are hiring leaner teams with sharper skill sets, especially in product and digital roles that directly impact business outcomes. It’s not just about filling positions; it’s about building capabilities. The resurgence in hiring signals that startups are regaining confidence, not just in funding cycles, but in the long-term promise of India’s digital economy.”
The report by TeamLease Services leverages extensive primary and secondary research, drawing insights from over 1,263 employers across 23 industries and 20 cities, and shows how India’s e-commerce and tech sectors are slowly moving past the funding freeze and returning to a growth mindset. With hiring focused on high-impact roles and steady demand in key cities, these sectors are playing an important role in India’s digital economy journey. As companies become more selective and strategic in hiring, the focus is shifting toward building stronger, more resilient teams for the future.
Be the first to comment