GIGS GET BIG

The festive season this year is expected to generate 7,00,000 gig jobs in the e-commerce industry

The e-commerce industry is expected to create 7,00,000 gig jobs during this year’s festive season, reflecting a 25% increase in gig employment compared to last year. E-commerce companies have made major preparations to meet consumer demand during the annual shopping frenzy, according to a report by the human resources firm TeamLease.

The report projects that this surge in shopping activity will generate nearly 7,00,000 gig jobs between July and December. Additionally, the sector currently has approximately 2,00,000 open positions for temporary workers. These opportunities are mainly concentrated in the last-mile delivery space and warehouse operations.

Alok Kumar, Senior Director of Global Accounts and Sales at Manpower, a subsidiary of Manpower Group, noted that the growth in hiring demand is more prominent in non-metro cities compared to metros. Retailers are expanding into mid-level cities, creating more opportunities in these regions.

Furthermore, the demand for gig workers during the festive season is not limited to Tier 1 cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Tier 2 and 3 cities, such as Vadodara, Pune, and Coimbatore, are also expected to experience a surge in demand for gig workers.

Industry experts anticipate an increase in hiring numbers, with e-commerce expected to see a 12% to 15% increase in jobs, while offline retail may see a 7% to 10% rise, which is significant given its huge offline retail base. Jobs in supply chain management, digital marketing, customer service, and partner-seller network services are also on the rise to address sellers’ concerns.