Looking for a job? Small towns are where the game is being played out.
The job market is revving up, but employers seem to be moving beyond metros to smaller towns in a bid to fill their staffing needs at lower salary bills.
According to job portal Naukri.com, after three
months of consecutive dips in recruitment levels, the hiring activity index for October is 3% up over September, and 26% more than the year-ago period - data that is supported by another job portal, Monster.com.
The hiring trend indicates better job opportunities for candidates at locations beyond metros. In fact, on a monthly basis, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai saw hiring ebb, while "unglamorous" hubs such as Ernakulam, Kochi and Baroda saw relatively healthy hiring. "Companies have started hiring beyond metros and may relocate new joinees later in drive to hire cheaper staff," said Sanjay Modi, managing director, Monster.com.
Headhunters say that in the recent times, companies have started sourcing 'affordable' employees from relatively cheaper talent hubs.
"The salary offered beyond metros is 25-30% less than packages offered within metros," said Uday Sodhi, CEO, HeadHonchos.com, a job search portal for senior professionals.
"Moreover, workers from such 'gloss-less' towns are perceived less attrition friendly and more dedicated," he said.
Meanwhile, typical rural recruiters - banking, retail and insurance sector - are back on a hiring spree. Also, multinational corporations are expanding their footprints beyond metros.
The trend may remain cautious for a while. "While most employers are optimistic about hiring plans, recruiters will continue with selective hiring for the next few months," said Hitesh Oberoi, CEO of InfoEdge India, which owns Naukri.com.