Diwali Rush Drives 15% Rise in Grey-Collar Jobs: The Skills Companies Are Now Hunting For

Demand for grey-collar workers in India's logistics sector is rising ahead of Diwali, as companies hire in larger numbers to handle the festive rush. The constraint, industry executives say, is not the number of applicants but the shortage of workers with the right mix of physical and digital skills.

Grey-collar roles sit between traditional blue-collar and white-collar work. These employees perform hands-on jobs but rely on technology to carry them out — warehouse staff operating digital scanners, workers managing automated sorting systems, delivery partners using apps for navigation and proof of delivery, and truck drivers handling digital documents.

Antim Suman, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of logistics firm Edgistify, told NDTV that demand for such talent is growing faster than the industry can train workers.

The festive season adds to the pressure. TeamLease's Festive Season Workforce Report 2026 projects that temporary hiring across e-commerce, quick commerce and logistics will grow by 15 to 20 per cent this season. Companies are looking beyond pickers and packers; they also need automation operators, inventory coordinators and returns executives.

These roles have become markedly more technology-driven. Delivery partners depend on apps for routes and delivery confirmation. Warehouse workers operate inventory systems and automated equipment. Experienced employees are also expected to resolve technical snags and manage shift schedules.

The longer-term demand is expanding as well. NITI Aayog has projected that India's gig workforce — which includes many delivery and logistics workers — will reach 2.35 crore by 2029-30. The Logistics Sector Skill Council estimates that the industry will need an additional 47 lakh workers by 2030.

Training, however, remains the weak link. Earlier data from the Logistics Sector Skill Council showed that only around 4 per cent of the freight logistics workforce had received formal vocational training. Many delivery partners learn on the job, with limited access to structured training or a clear path to career progression.

Suman said the gap becomes most visible when companies need workers who can take on supervisory responsibilities. Workers who can operate a system are easier to find than those who can manage a team using it.

Industry representatives suggest three broad steps to close the gap.

First, clearer career paths. A delivery partner should have a defined route to becoming a hub supervisor, and a warehouse picker should be able to move into a site management role. Second, training needs to become more accessible — mobile-based courses in local languages can help workers learn the systems they use every day without stepping away from their jobs. Third, social security coverage for gig workers needs to expand, Suman said.

The challenge for India's logistics sector is no longer only about hiring more people before the festive rush. Companies also need workers who can handle increasingly technology-driven operations. As demand for faster deliveries grows, investment in training and career development could help logistics firms build a more skilled and stable workforce.