India’s flexi‑staffing sector posts nearly 8 pc job growth in FY26

New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) India’s general flexi staffing industry posted 7.9 per cent net headcount growth in FY26, a report said on Wednesday.

According to an analysis by the flexi-staffing industry body, the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), the sector added 1.18 lakh formal temporary and flexible workers in FY 2026, bringing the total formal flexi workforce to 1.91 million.

The IT staffing returned to green with 10.1 per cent year‑on‑year new employment growth, the report said.

“Despite global macroeconomic headwinds slowing worldwide expansion, India’s staffing ecosystem has remarkably decoupled to remain a primary engine for formal job creation,” said Manmeet Singh, ISF president.

He described the sector’s performance as evidence of the “structural maturity” of India’s talent supply chains and their role in supporting the broader economy.

Farhan Azmi, Vice President, Indian Staffing Federation, said that the surge was anchored heavily by GCCs commanding 73 per cent of new mandates and by project ramp‑ups across retail, logistics and manufacturing.

“While broader economic uncertainties compressed sequential quarterly momentum to 0.2 per cent, underlying fundamentals remain strong with sustained project ramp-ups across retail, logistics, and manufacturing. The industry has weathered the slowdown and is actively scaling the technical elite powering India’s digital future,” he added.

Suchita Dutta, ISF executive director, noted the staffing industry’s role in EPFO’s monthly net payroll additions of 18–22 lakh, adding that 57–61 per cent of new subscribers were aged 18–25, signalling a youth‑led formalisation of the workforce.

Quarterly data showed a cautious stabilisation in Q4 FY26, with the industry posting 0.9 per cent quarter‑on‑quarter net growth in flexi employment. General staffing recorded over 0.9 per cent QoQ growth, while IT staffing grew 0.2 per cent QoQ, the report said.

The report highlighted sustained demand from e‑commerce, quick‑commerce and 3PL warehousing following a strong festive season.

The industry body urged continued policy and industry focus on formalisation and skills development to sustain momentum as India pursues broader employment and economic targets.

—IANS

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