Hiring activity across the country saw a mere one per cent rise in November this year as compared to last month.

According to the job index report prepared by the online jobs portal Naukri.com, sectors such as IT, software, oil and gas and banking witnessed increased hiring activity thereby leading to 10 per cent, 6 per cent and 4 per cent month-on-month growth respectively.

However, month-on-month reduction in hiring was reported from sectors that include insurance (29 per cent), telecom (17 per cent), BPO (17 per cent), automobiles (9 per cent) and pharmaceuticals (4 per cent).

“The Indian economy is currently poised at the cusp of change since general elections are around the corner. Despite global uncertainties, the hiring outlook for the country in 2014 remains positive,” Ambarish Raghuvanshi, Group President, Finance and CFO, Info Edge (India) Ltd said.

Info Edge (India) owns the portal Naukri.com. “We are bullish on hiring in India, next year,” he added.

In cities, Kolkata recorded the highest increase in monthly hiring reporting a 14 per cent increase; followed by Bangalore and Hyderabad – with 7 per cent increase, and, Chennai with 2 per cent increase.

Delhi-NCR and Mumbai each witnessed a 2 per cent (monthly) decline in hiring.

abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in