Visakhapatnam Tops Non-metro Indian Cities with Strongest Job Market Momentum

Mumbai: LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, has released the second edition of its Cities on the Rise list, revealing the 10 c. Visakhapatnam (#1), Ludhiana (#2), Surat (#3), Vadodara (#4), and Prayagraj (#5) top the list, reinforcing the rise of non-metro India as emerging hubs of job market activity.

The list arrives at a challenging moment for job seekers. LinkedIn research finds that 72% of professionals in India are actively looking for a new role this year, while 76% say the search has become harder amid greater competition and widening skill gaps linked to AI. The number of applicants per open role has also more than doubled since early 2022. Against this backdrop, emerging cities are giving professionals access to a wider range of industries, employers, and career pathways closer to home.

Nirajita Banerjee, LinkedIn Career Expert and India Senior Managing Editor, says, “This year’s list shows how India’s growth story is becoming more distributed, with emerging cities building serious, multi-sector job markets of their own. Legacy industries in these cities are being joined by technology, financial services, infrastructure, and services. For job seekers, that means location should become a more active part of career planning. Look at where employers are investing, which sectors are gaining momentum, and whether your skills can travel across industries. Expanding your search beyond metros and into adjacent roles can reveal credible career paths in markets that are growing faster than many professionals realise.”

Emerging cities are building broader economies beyond legacy industries

Across this year’s list, cities are widening their economic base by building on established strengths and attracting new sources of growth. Visakhapatnam is combining its port, pharma, and manufacturing economy with major AI, data centre, and technology investments, while Ludhiana is adding steel, aviation, and hospitality to its manufacturing base.

Surat is extending beyond textiles and diamonds through startups, exports, and real estate, as Vadodara attracts technology, engineering, and enterprise investment alongside chemicals and machinery. Vijayawada is following a similar path, with rising interest from IT and e-governance companies adding to its commercial economy.

Infrastructure investment is translating local growth into new jobs

As cities broaden their economic base, infrastructure is creating demand across hospitality, technology, manufacturing, and commercial services. Prayagraj’s metro network, Ganga Expressway, and expanded tourism capacity are generating year round opportunities in hospitality and services.

Rajkot’s international airport and medical device park are strengthening industrial and export linked employment, while Jabalpur’s road upgrades and focus on GCCs are drawing technology and commercial roles. In Vijayawada, better connectivity to Hyderabad and new development around Amaravati are widening opportunities across IT, real estate, and business services, while Ranchi’s smart city projects and major industrial investments are supporting jobs beyond its traditional mining economy.

National banks, industrial conglomerates, and educational institutions are emerging as key employers

IT services and technology consulting feature among the top three hiring industries in all 10 Cities on the Rise, while banking and financial services feature in eight. This shows that even as each city builds on distinct local strengths, nationally relevant professional roles are becoming more widely available beyond metros.

Employers including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Reliance Group entities, HCLTech, Tata Consultancy Services, and Concentrix are adding scale to these local job markets, while leading universities Banaras Hindu University, Lovely Professional University, KL University, and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad are strengthening both jobs and talent supply.

Here's the full list of LinkedIn's Cities on the Rise 2026 for India:

Visakhapatnam

Ludhiana

Surat

Vadodara

Prayagraj

Rajkot

Jabalpur

Ranchi

Raipur

Vijayawada