These sectors are seeing an increase in employment in middle-aged positions

As a mid-career professional, job change is a process that requires a lot of thought. You need to consider your experience, perspectives and the area you want to explore, while also ensuring that your personal commitments are met. Hence, it is worth understanding some of the opportunities that are emerging this year to plan your job change smoothly. Sashi Kumar, Sales Director, Indeed India, says that the sectors currently witnessing a surge in mid-career hiring include e-commerce companies. They are particularly keen on hiring experienced professionals. According to Indeed’s quarterly hiring tracker, there is also a noticeable increase in demand for senior management positions in manufacturing and BFSI sectors.

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Somdutta Singh, founder and CEO of Assiduus, says mid-career professionals looking for a change can explore a wide range of roles in data science, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data architecture.

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What are companies looking for in mid-career positions?

Kumar says, “Our research shows a 10% increase in employers hiring mid-level candidates over the past two years, from 23% in 2022 to 33% in 2024. Companies are looking to fill specific skill gaps that require experience, find leaders who can effectively lead teams, and remain competitive with fresh perspectives from mid-level talent. Additionally, hiring mid-level professionals helps improve retention rates as they tend to be more stable than entry-level employees. The push for digital transformation, especially in e-commerce, has further fueled demand for experienced professionals to manage and implement new technologies.”

It adds that this includes a 6% increase from 2022 to 2023 and an additional 4% increase in 2024. This underlines the continued upward trend in job openings for mid-career roles, reflecting the growing demand for experienced workers in these sectors, it adds.

Singh says he sees opportunities in the fintech sector, which needs professionals in areas such as mobile payments, blockchain technology and financial inclusion. The growth of e-commerce opportunities has led to the creation of positions for digital marketing managers, e-commerce operations specialists and logistics specialists. Healthcare is another area where there is a need for IT specialists, medical data analysts and telemedicine providers.

Kumar says mid-career positions require specialized knowledge that is harder to acquire or develop internally. That’s why talent is sought after.

Factors influencing this increased demand

Kumar adds that several factors are driving the demand for mid-career professionals in e-commerce, manufacturing and BFSI: In e-commerce, which is mostly funded by startups, companies are strategically hiring experienced professionals to maximize their investments due to budget constraints. In the BFSI sector, rapid technological advancements and growing cyber threats are creating demand for experienced professionals in regulatory compliance, risk management and decision-making.

Using Indeed data, he says that in the first quarter of 2024, the e-commerce industry hired 24% fewer mid-level candidates compared to entry-level positions, but hired 23% more mid-level than senior-level professionals. This shows that e-commerce companies are focusing more on acquiring new talent for entry-level positions, likely to train them to fit the needs of the company. In mid-level positions, they seem to value experience for roles that require managing teams or projects. Recruitment for senior-level positions is likely more selective, targeting experienced leaders who can drive strategy and development at scale.

In manufacturing, hiring for mid-level positions is 21% lower than for entry-level positions but 11% higher than for senior-level positions. This suggests that while there is demand for entry-level workers, manufacturers also need experienced mid-level professionals to optimize their operations. There may be fewer hires for senior-level positions as companies carefully select leaders with extensive industry knowledge and strategic skills.

In the BFSI sector, hiring in mid-level positions is 37% lower than in entry-level positions, but 15% higher than in senior-level positions. This indicates a strong preference for new talent in entry-level positions, likely in customer service and basic financial operations. In mid-level positions, there is a demand for professionals who can handle complex risk management and compliance tasks. Hiring rates are lower in senior-level positions as companies prioritize selecting leaders who can handle regulatory challenges and technological advances.

To navigate a mid-career transition, Singh says identifying transferable skills and areas you’re passionate about is key. “You can consider online courses, certifications, or bootcamps to gain new skills relevant to your dream role. Networking with professionals in your target sector can open doors and provide valuable insights,” she adds.