42% of gig jobs from MNCs as tier 2 cities lead
The gig hiring landscape is entering a new phase of growth, with demand shifting toward enterprise-led hiring, tier 2 talent hubs, and high-skill remote roles, according to the latest foundit Insights Tracker, a monthly IP report by jobs and talent platform foundit. While startups continue to play a role in gig adoption, larger organisations are increasingly shaping the market as GCC expansion, AI-led roles, and flexible workforce models gain momentum.
Alongside this, the broader monthly hiring market saw a slight moderation in March, with the overall index declining 5% month-on-month and remaining largely stable at 1% year-on-year growth.
Anupama Bhimrajka, VP – Marketing, foundit said, “India’s gig market is evolving from a volume-led opportunity into a capability-led talent ecosystem. Large organisations are increasingly using gig hiring to solve for specialised skill gaps, particularly in AI-driven and senior roles where agility is critical.
“What is equally significant is the rise of Tier-2 talent markets and the growing acceptance of remote and hybrid models, which are fundamentally expanding how companies think about workforce access,” Bhimrajka said.
Growth is shifting toward AI-led roles, senior talent, and tier 2 cities, with demand accelerating in high-skill, high-impact segments. The gig ecosystem is also becoming more distributed, with emerging hubs outside metros contributing an increasing share of the talent pool. White-collar gig jobs are estimated to have grown from 6.8 million in FY25 to 8.23 million in FY26 and are projected to cross approximately 10.2 million by FY27, while project-based hiring is steadily becoming a mainstream model.
Location Outlook: Tier-2 Cities Lead Future Growth
Tier-2 cities are emerging as the strongest growth engine for gig hiring, with their share expected to rise sharply over the next two fiscal years.
| Location | FY25 | FY26 | FY27 Forecast | Insight |
| Delhi NCR | 22.4% | 20.1% | 23.6% | Stable leader |
| Bengaluru | 20.7% | 23.5% | 28.4% | AI hub |
| Mumbai | 19.8% | 18.2% | 21.7% | BFSI-driven |
| Tier-1 (Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai) | 27.3% | 23.8% | 28.9% | GCC growth |
| Tier-2 Cities | 34.6% | 30.7% | 38.8% | Fastest growth |
Among tier 2 hubs, Coimbatore, Vadodara, Kochi, and Indore are emerging as talent centres, supported by growth in IT services, analytics, manufacturing, GCC-linked roles, digital marketing, and remote tech gigs. Other fast-emerging markets such as Jaipur, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, and Lucknow are also gaining traction across creative, consulting, analytics, and support roles.
Remote Gig Roles Continue to Dominate
Flexibility remains central to gig demand, with fully remote roles accounting for the largest share of growth.
| Sub-segment | FY25 | FY26 | FY27 Forecast | Insight |
| Fully Remote Gig Roles | 34.6% | 38.9% | 45.2% | Core driver |
| Hybrid Gig | 21.7% | 25.3% | 29.6% | Structured flexibility |
Who’s Driving Gig Hiring?
Enterprises are now scaling gig adoption more aggressively, even as startups remain important early adopters.
| Company Type | FY25 | FY26 | FY27 Forecast | Insight |
| Startups | 26.8% | 24.1% | 27.9% | Agile hiring |
| MNCs / Enterprises | 18.6% | 23.7% | 31.4% | Fastest scaling segment |
| Mid-size Companies | 21.3% | 22.6% | 26.8% | Balanced, steady adoption |
In terms of current share of gig jobs, MNCs / Enterprises account for 42%, followed by startups at 32% and mid-size companies at 27%. The enterprise share is being driven largely by GCC expansion, while startups continue to focus on AI, product, and growth roles.
Monthly Hiring Trends – March 2026
Top Cities See Mixed Hiring Momentum in March 2026
| Location | % MoM | % YoY |
| Bangalore | 0% | 7% |
| Delhi-NCR | -1% | -7% |
| Mumbai | -2% | 7% |
| Hyderabad | 0% | 8% |
| Chennai | -2% | 1% |
Hiring Shifts Toward Mid- and Senior-Level Talent in March
| Experience | MoM Changes | YoY Growth |
| 0-3 | -4% | -2% |
| 4-6 | -3% | 0% |
| 7-10 | 1% | 13% |
| 11-15 | -1% | 6% |
| >15 | 2% | 12% |
