Hiring activity improves further in May

In signs of improved labour market conditions, hiring activities picked up last month led by telecom and banking sectors, according to leading job portal Naukri.com.

The monthly Naukri Job Speak Index rose by two per cent last month as compared to April, indicating that hiring sentiment remains healthy. The index reflects overall job demand.

"The services sector in particular displayed strong hiring trends in May 2011 with sectors like telecom, insurance and banking witnessing their job speak index move up by 24 per cent, 21 per cent and 13 per cent in May over April," Naukri.com said in a statement today.

Info Edge India's CEO and MD Hitesh Oberoi said first half of 2011 has been very encouraging as the job scenario has been upbeat across sectors.

Info Edge India owns naukri.com.

"However with the improving job market and healthy appraisals, the key challenge now is to retain proven employees," Oberoi noted.

The statement said that IT-Software, ITES and pharma sectors maintained steady hiring levels in May.

On the other hand, capital goods and construction sectors witnessed a 4 per cent decline in their hiring activity last month compared to April.

"Hiring activity for Kolkata, Bangalore and Delhi moved up by 14 per cent, 9 per cent and 7 per cent, respectively in May as compared to April.

"The job index for Pune and Chennai moved up by 6 per cent, respectively and for Hyderabad the index moved up by 5 per cent in May as compared to the previous month," it added.