The current business landscape is witnessing a strategic shift where both employers and employees are increasingly relocating to tier-2 cities for business expansion and in search of employment opportunities. For employers, factors such as lower operating costs, access to a diverse and underutilised talent pool, and a thriving startup ecosystem, bolstered by increased investments from global brands, make these cities attractive. For employees, the benefit lies in lower living costs, proximity to their hometowns, reduced traffic congestion, and a healthier environment with minimal pollution.
Amid the emergence of tier-2 cities like Pune, Jaipur, and Coimbatore, Lucknow is also gaining prominence by offering a supportive ecosystem for both businesses and employees. The city’s employment growth is being primarily driven by industries such as Information Technology, Automobile, Textile, and Food Processing. This industrial expansion is fueled by increased corporate investments, significant government policy initiatives, the development of advanced infrastructure, and the implementation of skill development programs targeting local talent.
This article explores the current job market trends in Lucknow in 2025, highlighting key industries, in-demand job roles, and other relevant insights to help employers and employees stay informed and make strategic decisions.
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Growth by Sectors
Information and Technology
Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a year-on-year growth of 22% in technology-based employment, with Lucknow emerging as a key contributor to this trend. Prominent technology firms such as TCS, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra have established a strong presence in the city, undertaking a wide range of projects. Notable IT hubs, including Lucknow IT City (Chandrika Devi Road, Sultanpur Road), the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), and the Chandra Shekhar Azad Technology Park, host numerous IT companies, generating substantial employment opportunities for the local population.
Several factors are driving the remarkable growth of the IT sector in Lucknow. Under the IndiaAI Mission, the Uttar Pradesh government is working towards transforming Lucknow into the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) city. An investment of approximately ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked for the development of digital infrastructure, including the establishment of at least three world-class data centres and the deployment of a high-speed fibre optic network. Additionally, the state government has introduced a dedicated AI policy offering a 25% subsidy for AI startups, tax incentives for companies investing in AI infrastructure, and the creation of a ₹500 crore AI innovation fund. This policy also mandates AI skill development programs for young professionals, in collaboration with leading technology institutions.
This initiative is expected to generate around 50,000 direct and indirect AI-related employment opportunities in the city. Furthermore, the state government has accorded “industry” status to the IT and ITeS sector in Lucknow, enabling companies in this sector to benefit from reduced costs for land acquisition and electricity.
Automobile
In the financial year 2022–23, Lucknow recorded the highest number of vehicle registrations in Uttar Pradesh, with 114,539 two-wheelers and 55,729 four-wheelers, reflecting the rapid expansion of the automobile sector in the region. Tata Motors, a major player in the industry, operates a dedicated manufacturing plant in Lucknow for the production of buses and trucks, making the city a vital hub in the company’s national production network.
Lucknow has also been designated as a “Lighthouse City” under the “Comprehensive Electric Mobility Plan,” a joint initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, NITI Aayog, and the Asian Development Bank. This designation underscores the city’s role in promoting electric vehicles (EVs) as part of a broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Lucknow Development Authority has established EV charging stations in three key city parks: Janeshwar Mishra Park, Lohia Park, and Jyotiba Phule Park, aiming to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles among residents.
Furthermore, the Uttar Pradesh government has set an ambitious goal of achieving a 100% transition to green transportation by 2030. As part of this plan, green routes for electric buses are planned to be introduced in 2025. These combined efforts are expected to drive further growth in the automobile sector, particularly in Lucknow, while the rising demand for sustainable electric vehicles is anticipated to generate new employment opportunities for the local workforce.
Food Processing
The Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 attracted 1,483 investment proposals in the food processing sector, amounting to ₹81,309 crore, with the potential to generate approximately 290,531 jobs across the state. Agro-processing clusters in regions such as Lucknow, Kanpur (Rural), Sitapur, and Mathura are already providing direct benefits to over 16,000 farmers, contributing to increased income levels and employment opportunities.
The Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industrial Policy 2023 aims to boost investments in the state’s food processing sector by offering a range of incentives, including subsidies, interest concessions, and transport subsidies. Under this policy, a grant of up to ₹5 crore is available for the establishment of new food processing units. Additionally, the state is actively developing around 15 agro and food processing parks in various cities, which are expected to create further employment opportunities for farmers and local youth.
Furthermore, major companies such as Coca-Cola and Reliance Beverage Private Limited have announced plans to establish new manufacturing facilities in Bijnor and Muzaffarnagar, respectively.
The combination of rising corporate investments and targeted policy support from the Uttar Pradesh government is expected to accelerate the growth of the food processing sector, particularly in Lucknow, thereby enhancing employment prospects in the region.
Textile
The textile industry in Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a significant driver of employment and economic development across the state. Over the past five years, approximately 123 textile companies have invested ₹2,492 crore, resulting in the creation of employment for 19,752 individuals. A major initiative under the PM MITRA scheme involves the establishment of a mega textile park in the Lucknow-Hardoi region, covering an area of 1,162 acres. This project has attracted a total investment of ₹10,000 crore from leading textile and garment companies.
The textile park is expected to host around 400 large and small textile manufacturing units, with participation from prominent brands such as Reliance Industries, Arvind Mills, Vardhman, and Ahuja Textile Mills. In the financial year 2024–25, the Uttar Pradesh government allocated ₹400 crore in its annual budget for the development of this park under the PM MITRA scheme. Beyond accommodating major brands, the park will encompass the entire textile value chain, including training, marketing, packaging, and export activities.
In-demand Job Roles in 2025
According to Naukri, around 7193 job openings were found in the four key industries (IT, Automobile, Food processing and Textile) in Lucknow in April 2025. The IT sector dominated the employment realm with 5086 openings, highlighting its prominence in the city, as is also a trend witnessed in other growing tier-2 cities. It is followed by the automobile sector and the food processing sector, with 1114 and 918 openings, respectively. The textile sector had the least number of openings (75) recorded.
Within the IT sector, software engineer roles were the most in-demand, comprising approximately 30.6% of the total openings. Data analysts and scientists (23%), DevOps engineers (23.3%), and cybersecurity professionals (23.1%) also had a balanced demand in the job market.
In the automobile sector, sales executives represented the highest share of job openings at 51.7%, followed by area sales managers at 24.8%. Other roles, including production engineers (8.1%), quality assurance managers (7.6%), and warehouse managers (7.8%), were comparatively less in demand.
Although still emerging, the food processing sector offered 918 job opportunities of which quality assurance officer roles accounted for 44%, while business development managers and area sales managers shared an equal proportion of 25%. Openings for food technologists and production officers were limited, each comprising just 3% of the total.
In the textile industry, out of the 75 available positions, fashion designers were the most sought-after (28%), followed closely by production supervisors (25%), fabric designers (24%), and executive sales representatives (23%).
Lucknow is rapidly emerging as a significant hub for employment and business growth among India’s tier-2 cities. This impressive progress, driven primarily by the IT, automobile, food processing, and textile industries is generating a wide range of job opportunities. Several strategic initiatives by the Uttar Pradesh government, such as the IndiaAI Mission, Comprehensive Electric Mobility Plan, Uttar Pradesh Food Processing Industrial Policy, PM MITRA scheme, etc, have played a pivotal role in accelerating industrial growth and increasing demand across various job roles. Tier-2 cities like Lucknow offer immense potential to amplify the nation’s employment and economic growth.
Government policies, robust skill development programs, and sustained private sector investments are helping to strengthen employment opportunities in these cities.
