India’s gig economy shifts gears as enterprises drive demand for high-skill talent

India’s gig economy is entering a new phase—one defined less by scale and more by sophistication. What began as a startup-led experiment in flexible hiring is now being reshaped by large enterprises, the rise of Tier II talent hubs, and a decisive shift towards high-skill, project-based roles, according to the latest foundit Insights Tracker, a monthly analysis of job-posting activity online across recruitment platforms. It is brought out by foundit, a jobs and talent platform.

Who is driving India’s gig hiring boom?

The report shows that MNCs and large enterprises now account for 42% of gig hiring in India, signalling a clear pivot in how companies are structuring their workforce. Startups, once the early adopters of gig talent, now contribute 32%, while mid-sized firms account for 27%.

The shift is not merely about who is hiring, but why. For enterprises, gig roles are no longer confined to cost optimisation or short-term staffing. Instead, they are increasingly being deployed to access specialised capabilities—particularly in artificial intelligence, data science, and senior-level strategic functions. The expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India has further accelerated this trend, as global firms look to build agile, on-demand talent pipelines.

“India’s gig market is evolving into a capability-led talent ecosystem, with large organisations using gig hiring to address specialised skill gaps, especially in AI-driven and senior roles,” said Anupama Bhimrajka, vice president-marketing, foundit.

This evolution is also redefining the very nature of gig work. White-collar gig jobs, estimated at 6.8 million in FY25, have grown to over 8.2 million in FY26 and are projected to cross 10 million by FY27, underscoring the rapid formalisation of what was once considered an informal employment segment.

Why Tier II cities are emerging as gig talent hubs

Geography, too, is being rewritten. Tier II cities are emerging as the fastest-growing hubs for gig talent, with their share expected to rise to nearly 39% by FY27. Cities such as Coimbatore, Vadodara, Kochi, and Indore are seeing increased traction, driven by growth in IT services, analytics, manufacturing, and remote digital roles. Emerging centres like Jaipur, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, and Lucknow are also gaining ground across creative and consulting assignments.

This dispersion of talent reflects a deeper structural change. As remote and hybrid work models gain acceptance, companies are no longer constrained by location when hiring for high-skill roles. Fully remote gigs already account for nearly 39% of the market and are projected to exceed 45% by FY27, making them the single largest driver of growth in the segment.

Is gig work becoming more specialised and experience-driven?

At the same time, the experience profile of gig workers is shifting upwards. Hiring demand is increasingly concentrated among professionals with 7–10 years and over 15 years of experience, indicating that companies are turning to the gig economy for expertise rather than just execution bandwidth.

The broader hiring landscape, however, presents a more measured picture. Overall hiring activity declined 5% month-on-month in March, even as it remained broadly stable on a year-on-year basis. Metro markets reported mixed momentum, with Bengaluru and Hyderabad holding steady, while Delhi-NCR and Mumbai saw marginal declines.

Taken together, the trends point to a gig economy that is no longer peripheral but integral to corporate workforce strategy. As enterprises deepen their participation, Tier II cities expand the talent base, and high-skill roles dominate demand, India’s gig market is transitioning from a fragmented opportunity to a structured, capability-driven ecosystem—one that could redefine how the country works in the decade ahead.