New Delhi: The latest LinkedIn report is turning heads with a list that spotlights a growing trend many may not have noticed: the job market is heating up in India’s smaller cities. LinkedIn’s Cities on the Rise 2025 study reveals that it’s not just Bengaluru, Delhi, or Mumbai anymore. Cities like Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, and Vijayawada are becoming hotspots for professionals seeking meaningful work and better quality of life without the chaos of big metros.
This is LinkedIn’s first-ever location-based ranking focused on emerging career hubs. The data is drawn from hiring patterns, talent inflow, and job creation activity on the platform. The top 10 cities on this list are all outside the usual suspects and signal a shift in India’s economic heartbeat.
Visakhapatnam leads, followed by Ranchi and Vijayawada
The top three cities on LinkedIn’s list, Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, and Vijayawada, are seeing a strong wave of hiring, especially in sectors like tech, finance, and healthcare. Companies such as Miracle Software Systems in Vizag, HCLTech and Infosys in Vijayawada, and pharma majors like Dr. Reddy’s and Sun Pharma are among the big names creating jobs in these cities.
Interestingly, these are not just support roles. Core engineering jobs, business development, and operations are leading the hiring spree. For example, in Nashik, Raipur, and Rajkot, business development roles are driving demand. In cities like Madurai and Vijayawada, engineering functions are getting the most traction.
Government and private push is transforming Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn’s India Senior Managing Editor, said that smaller cities are becoming serious career hubs thanks to a mix of government efforts, digital growth, and private sector confidence. “The influx of GCC investments, the local MSME boom, and the government’s vision of a Viksit Bharat are collectively turning smaller cities into serious career hubs,” she said. She added that for many Indians, moving to a metro is no longer the only way to grow professionally.
For instance, smart city projects in Ranchi and infrastructure development in Rajkot have improved connectivity and liveability, making them attractive for both businesses and workers. Raipur’s ‘Naya Raipur’ vision is pushing similar changes in Chhattisgarh.
Full list of LinkedIn’s ‘Cities on the Rise 2025’
- Visakhapatnam
- Ranchi
- Vijayawada
- Nashik
- Raipur
- Rajkot
- Agra
- Madurai
- Vadodara
- Jodhpur
These cities are not only cheaper to live in, but they are also seeing better infrastructure, more educational institutions, and increasing local opportunities.
Why this matters for professionals and companies
As more Indian professionals say they want to switch jobs this year, cities on this list could offer a chance to build a career closer to home. LinkedIn’s data shows that over 80 percent of Indian users are exploring job changes. With the spotlight now on cities beyond Tier-1, companies can also tap into fresh talent pools without battling the saturated markets of metros.
This shift is also helpful in reducing pressure on mega cities and could help in distributing economic activity more evenly across the country. As tech, pharma, and BFSI companies set up bases in these cities, professionals might find a new work-life balance in places they once left behind.