India’s consumer goods landscape is witnessing a cautious yet purposeful hiring trend in 2025, as companies in both the FMCG and FMCD sectors recalibrate talent strategies amid evolving market dynamics. As companies adapt, hiring trends in the FMCG and FMCD sectors are moving away from scale and shifting toward strategic precision.
According to the latest TeamLease Employment Outlook Report H1 FY 2025-26, hiring intent exists but is clearly prioritised—moving from volume to value.
FMCG SECTOR
The FMCG sector reflects a cautious hiring outlook, with a net employment change (NEC) of 2.9%. While 42% of employers are expanding their teams, the approach remains highly selective, prioritising supply chain digitisation, GTM restructuring, and rural reach models. At the same time, 38% are holding headcount flat, a reflection of urban consumption stagnation, and 20% expect reductions, especially in traditional distribution channels and multi-brand retail frameworks.
Top Functional Hiring Areas:
Sales & Marketing (63%) – Driven by Tier-2/Tier-3 consumption surge and digital acquisition
Engineering (40%) – Supports production and logistics
Blue Collar (26%) – Logistics and supply chain support
Finance (22%)– Focused on analytics, ERP, and cost control
IT (20%) – Digital transformation and automation
In terms of job locations, the top three job locations for the FMCG Sector are Mumbai (28%), Jaipur (24%) and Bengaluru with 22%.
There is a rising demand for category analysts, trade marketing professionals, and inventory optimisation roles, especially in firms recalibrating for price-sensitive SKUs and regional profitability.
FMCD SECTOR
The FMCD sector presents a muted but stable outlook, with a net employment change of 2%. Half of employers (50%) plan to hire, particularly in channel sales, inventory ops, and smart appliance servicing—areas that align with seasonal consumption cycles. However, 24% expect reductions, primarily in dealer networks and cost-intensive service lines, while 26% are holding positions steady ahead of festive quarter recalibrations.
Top Functional Hiring Areas:
- Sales & Marketing (52%) – Bolstered by regional expansion and D2C push
- Engineering (46%) – Key for product innovation and smart appliances
- IT (23%) – Platform digitisation and AI-backed servicing
- Blue Collar (26%) – Operational warehousing roles
In terms of job locations, the top three job locations for the FMCD Sector are Mumbai (24%), Hyderabad (20%) and Pune with 17%.
The focus is increasingly on after-sales engineering, SKU-level demand forecasting, and IoT-enabled product support, as companies adopt a digital-first GTM strategy to navigate demand volatility.
