2 weeks ago
Survey: 57% of employers use senior titles to retain talent
Many companies in India give their workers big-sounding job titles instead of paying them more money.
A survey asked workers and bosses about this.
It found that 57% of companies use fancy titles to keep workers happy or attract new ones.
Many workers say their title does not match how much they get paid.
Some workers who got a new title received almost no extra money.
Still, many workers think titles are important.
About 70% believe a good title helps them get better jobs in the future.
More than half of workers would pick a bigger salary over a fancier title.
So titles matter, but money matters even more.
According to Indeed's latest quarterly hiring tracker, 57% of employers in India use senior or enhanced job titles to attract or retain talent.
Nearly six in 10 professionals say their job title does not reflect their compensation.
About one in three professionals who received a title change in the past two years got no salary increase or an increment of less than 5%.
52% of professionals said they would choose a higher salary over a better designation when considering a new opportunity.
Nearly 80% of professionals believe title inflation has become common across industries.
- Who
- Indian employers and employees surveyed on behalf of Indeed by Valuvox; Sashi Kumar, Managing Director of Indeed India, commented on the findings.
- What
- A survey found that 57% of employers use senior job titles to attract or retain talent, revealing a disconnect between designations and compensation.
- Where
- India, covering Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities.
- When
- May and June 2026.
- Why
- The study examined perceptions around job titles and compensation, changing expectations for career progression, and the use of titles as a talent tool when salary budgets are constrained.
Employees
Employers
Titles vs. Pay
Employees
Nearly six in 10 professionals say their job title does not reflect their compensation, and 52% would choose a higher salary over a better designation, so titles alone are not enough.
Employers
Employers use senior titles strategically to attract candidates and retain high-performing employees, particularly when salary budgets remain constrained.
What career progression means
Employees
Employees associate career progression most strongly with financial advancement and expect titles to come with meaningful compensation.
Employers
Employers see titles as one of several ways to recognise talent and employee growth, alongside compensation.
Key facts
- Survey conducted by
- Indeed (fieldwork by Valuvox)
- Survey period
- May–June 2026
- Employers surveyed
- 1,211 across India
- Employees surveyed
- 2,533 across India
- Employers using senior titles for talent
- 57%
- Professionals whose title does not match pay
- Nearly 6 in 10
- Professionals preferring higher salary over designation
- 52%
- Professionals seeing title inflation as common
- Nearly 80%
Quotes
Sashi Kumar
Managing Director, Indeed India
“Titles remain meaningful because they signal opportunity and capability, but they are most effective when they reflect genuine career progression rather than becoming a substitute for it. Building that alignment will be increasingly important for organisations looking to attract and retain talent in a competitive market.”
livemint.com
Sources
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