Travel & Hospitality Hiring Booms: 81% of Employers Plan Expansion
81% of travel and hospitality employers plan to expand their workforce with a projected 12.3% net employment change, per TeamLease Services.
India's travel and hospitality sector is gearing up for a massive talent surge. According to a recent report by TeamLease Services, the industry is expecting a travel and hospitality hiring boom, with a projected Net Employment Change (NEC) of 12.3 per cent for the October-March period of FY2026-27. A staggering 81 per cent of employers have indicated plans to expand their workforce to meet growing demands.
Where are the Jobs? Top Hiring Functions
The demand for talent is spread across various operational levels, but the report highlights a strong preference for frontline and revenue-generating roles. The hiring intent is broken down as follows:
- Blue-collar roles: Leading the charge with 52 per cent of employers planning expansion.
- Sales and Marketing: Following closely at 50 per cent.
- Finance: 40 per cent of employers are looking to hire.
- Information Technology: 31 per cent hiring intent.
- Back-office and Administration: 22 per cent of employers plan to grow these teams.
City Spotlight: Where the Growth is Happening
While the growth is national, certain urban hubs are emerging as the primary engines of employment in the travel and hospitality space. Mumbai has taken the lead as the top destination for workforce expansion.
The regional breakdown of hiring intent reveals:
- Mumbai: 29 per cent
- Bengaluru: 27 per cent
- Delhi: 20 per cent
- Kolkata: 19 per cent
- Gurugram: 18 per cent
Salary Hikes on the Horizon
It is not just about more jobs; the existing and new workforce can expect better pay. The Jobs & Salaries Primer FY2026-27 suggests a positive trend in compensation. The industry is projected to record a salary increment of 9.2 per cent in FY27, a step up from the 8.5 per cent seen in FY26.
What is Driving This Growth?
The report attributes this optimistic outlook to several key trends reshaping the Indian travel landscape:
- The expansion of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions).
- A growing appetite for experiential tourism.
- A significant rise in travel demand originating from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Expert Insight on Workforce Readiness
Balasubramanian A, Senior Vice President at TeamLease Services, emphasized that as the industry grows, maintaining service quality remains a critical challenge. He noted that workforce readiness is essential for operational efficiency.
"As travel patterns evolve and businesses prepare for seasonal fluctuations, employers will need to balance staffing flexibility with the need for consistent customer experiences," he stated.
The findings of this report are based on a comprehensive survey conducted between July and August 2026, involving 1,239 businesses across 20 cities and 23 different industries in India.