Jobs on the Rise in 2021: India Report

COVID-19 brought significant disruption to the global economy and permanent changes to the jobs landscape.

According to labour statistics by the Centre of Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)¹, India faced massive job losses at the early stages of the pandemic, with industries like manufacturing and services still facing sustained impact today.² However, many Indian businesses also experienced unprecedented demand and demonstrated resilience by pivoting to new solutions to keep their services available. LinkedIn data observed hiring declines reach a new low in April 2020, before slowly recovering with approximately 10-15 percentage points recovery every month across the next six months.³

As we move into 2021, workers and organisations are confronting the big questions: What trends have we seen emerge from 2020? What jobs are on the rise? And what skills are needed to succeed in these roles?

LinkedIn’s unique dataset offers insights into these questions. We have compiled them into a special edition of LinkedIn’s yearly Emerging Jobs Report, titled Jobs on the Rise.

This special edition report more closely represents the rapidly changing world we’re living in as a result of the pandemic. Instead of looking at how the jobs landscape has changed over the past 5 years - as we have done in years past - this year, we look at changes between April and October 2020, against the same period in the year before. We also map out the skills that are on the rise for workers and organisations.

While ongoing disruption and uncertainty will continue in 2021, our data shows there is still a range of exciting opportunities for talent with the right experience and skills. Workers equipped with the right skills, even at a basic level, will have an edge in finding employment opportunities within these fields. Read on to discover five of the most pertinent trends that have emerged in India as a result of the events in 2020.

Learn more about key trends from India's Jobs on the Rise.

Brands and individuals are engaging audiences online

As life is increasingly conducted in front of screens, non-tech roles are evolving to service new digital demands. This shift online is fuelling an evolution in how brands communicate with consumers. LinkedIn recorded a 48 percent increase in companies posting on the platform in June 2020, compared to a year earlier.

The creation of online content is not just driven by brands, but by individuals as well. India is home to one of the world’s largest and most rapidly growing bases of digital consumers and internet accessibility has been further accelerated by declining data costs which have fallen 95% since 2013.⁴ This has given rise to individuals sharing and creating content online. India’s top Job on the Rise typifies this - the freelance content creators. They use creative storytelling skills to produce entertaining content across a range of channels, from podcasts to videos and social media posts. They may be working to develop their own brand or in partnership with an organisation – usually both.

With India expected to have over 760 million smartphone users in 2021,¹⁴ demand for local and relevant content is only going to grow in 2021. Channels for content are boundless - YouTube is the country’s most popular digital platform with an 82 percent penetration rate,¹⁵ India also has a burgeoning podcast scene, and is currently the third-largest podcast-listening market according to a report by KPMG.¹⁶ As new ways to monetise this content emerges, demand for those who can produce captivating stories will only grow.

Cybersecurity is critical to a digital-first future

COVID-19 is accelerating emerging tech solutions

From ordering groceries online to studying remotely or switching to cashless payments - COVID-19 forced many Indian organisations and consumers to quickly adopt new technology. India’s growing EdTech scene saw significant growth during the lockdown months, and with one of the world’s youngest populations, the sector will continue to grow.⁶ The Indian EdTech market is expected to be worth US$10.4 billion in 2025, up from US$2.8 billion in 2020,⁷ while India’s e-commerce market will be worth US$200 billion by 2026.⁸ The HealthTech and FinTech sectors are also forecast to experience significant growth as they begin to scale.⁹ ¹⁰ Particularly sought after will be talent who can pivot to digital-based operations smoothly.

India’s fast-growing EdTech sector is supported by its young population, with demand likely to continue for education roles that have an online element. For example, BYJU, a learning app for children, is meeting growing demand by hiring some 8,000 new roles, in both technical and non-technical positions.²³ Amid the disruption of COVID-19, LinkedIn data observed an interesting transition from recruitment to career counselling. Skill sets for spotting talent can now be used to help students prepare to be hired.

Indian consumers are well informed - nearly half (40%) will do online research before making a purchase. ¹¹ Consumers can now give immediate and direct feedback via social media, so the importance of excellent customer experiences is crucial. Brands recognise that the key to attracting and retaining customers is the experience – from staff engagement to the ease of using an app. The disruption of COVID-19 has fuelled demand for customer services roles as brands navigate customer concerns and adapt to how they deliver their services online.

Lifelong learning will keep talent ahead of the curve

India’s workforce had already been going through a period of disruption before the pandemic struck. The rapid adoption of technology meant half the workforce was expected to need reskilling by 2022.¹² While many emerging roles may be influenced by tech, globally the majority of people who fill these roles often come from non-emerging jobs.¹³ Roles in Human Resources, and Sales and Business Development still rely on the same core skills, but require additional digital tools to boost performance. The rise of tech means all talent now needs to master basic digital skills to stay ahead of the game.

A lifelong learning mindset is crucial for professionals looking to develop themselves and adapt to the workforce of the future. Workers who are equipped with digital skills — even at a basic level — will have an edge in finding employment opportunities. From digital marketing, project management to software development and data analysis, there are a range of LinkedIn Learning courses that professionals can take up to venture into these skill sets.

For talent professionals, we hope these trends provide valuable insights in informing your workforce strategies for 2021 - whether you're recruiting for new roles, upskilling your workforce or helping your organisation pivot to meet the demands of today’s changing talent landscape.

Resources for recruiters, or organisations hiring for new talent:
1. Address current and future skill gaps using skills trends and competitive benchmarking with LinkedIn Talent Insights
2. LinkedIn’s Skills Assessment to identify talent with relevant skills
3. Connect employees to relevant, applicable skills through a learning experience that is personalised and social with LinkedIn Learning

Resources for professionals looking for employment, or to pivot in their careers:
1. LinkedIn’s Career Explorer tool, to help job seekers gain a new perspective on the skills they currently have and explore different or new career paths
2. Free learning paths released last year for in-demand jobs
3. LinkedIn Learning courses to help you secure a job (‘Expert Tips for Answering Common Interview Questions’, ‘How to Rock an Interview’, ‘Resume Makeover’, etc.)

"Jobs on the Rise" are defined as the career categories that have seen the highest year-over-year growth rates in hiring (as reflected in the April 2020 to October 2020 timeframe).

LinkedIn Economic Graph data scientists have looked at over 15,000 job titles to uncover the jobs that have grown the most, compared to 2019 levels.

Those titles were then grouped into overarching career trends that capture as many as 25 job titles within each category. Each trend summary calls out the largest job titles within that trend. Career trends are ranked using a combination of year-over-year growth rate combined with the raw size of the job demand.