Media and entertainment hiring is recovering, but only for some roles: TeamLease
27 October 2026 · 2 min read · HireHo
Based on TeamLease Services' Employment Outlook Report, as discussed in an interview published on 21 October 2026. Summarised in our own words.
Balasubramanian A, a senior vice president at TeamLease Services, calls the recovery in media and entertainment hiring 'a measured recovery, not a boom'. The net employment change was 2.9% in the first half of FY2026-27, up from 1.2% in the half before.
Who is hiring
The report says 54% of employers in the sector are hiring while 25% are still cutting jobs. It attributes the growth to OTT and regional-language content, gaming, ad-tech and data-driven audience strategies. Print and broadcast jobs are losing momentum because ad revenue is slower and audiences are moving to mobile and on-demand viewing.
Roles in demand
- Digital content creators
- Gaming, animation and VFX specialists
- Data analysts
- Performance marketers
- Platform technology roles
Sector salary growth was 9.1%, up from 7.7%. Hiring intent for freshers in marketing functions rose from about 11% to 62%. The interview says creator roles are becoming formal jobs at the top end, while gig work is still common lower down.
Where the jobs are
An infographic with the interview lists Mumbai (23%), Chennai (20%) and Pune (16%) as the top hiring hubs. The interview text also mentions other cities, so treat the ranking as a rough guide.
What this means for you
- Build a portfolio. Employers in these roles look at work samples more than at degrees.
- Skills in editing, animation, data and performance marketing are named by the report as in demand.
- Traditional print and TV roles are slower, so consider adding a digital skill.