Various estimates project the possibility of over 400,000 jobs across last-mile delivery and supply-chain personnel in the next 90 days due to the rising demand of delivery executives in the country.

Companies like Zomato, BigBasket, Ecom Express, Shadowfax, and Swiggy are increasing their delivery staff as demand for online delivery and quick-commerce services grows.

Grocery and food deliveries, pharmaceuticals, apparel and fashion will all require manpower, which will be a mix of regular and freelance workers.

The increase in labor need is attributable to increased internet shopping, which is driving typical organic growth. The quick-commerce ambitions of several of the top online platforms, which are putting up dark storefronts, creating hyperlocal distribution networks, and enlisting additional partners to assure immediate delivery, are also providing a big boost.

Shadowfax Technologies, which partners with online marketplaces like Flipkart Quick, Zepto, BigBasket, and Swiggy Instamart, wants to hire three times as many delivery agents in 2022 as it did last year.

Zomato, the food delivery company that recently launched Zomato Instant, a 10-minute delivery service, is stepping up its efforts to attract additional delivery partners, including more women and transgender people.

According to a recent report by management consulting firm RedSeer, India's quick-commerce business is expected to grow 15 times its current size by 2025, surpassing other markets like China in terms of user acceptance.

Apart from that, even when physical businesses expand, the convenience of making an order online and receiving speedy delivery to the door will continue to entice customers to shop online.

"Online and on-demand tech-backed gig marketplace for instant deliveries will drive more demand considering the shift in purchasing behaviours,” says Abhishek Bansal, cofounder, Shadowfax Technologies. “The sector is constantly evolving, and delivery agents are a crucial part of it. With this, we are expecting more demand in the near future,” he adds.

Staffing solutions companies such as ManpowerGroup India are seeing a surge in demand. “We are witnessing increased demand by 25-30 percent compared to the last quarter,” says Alok Kumar, senior director for sales, account management and global accounts.