Freshers In Demand: 72% Indian Employers Plan Hiring New Grads, Says Report

With gradual improvement in the job market, a report on Wednesday revealed that 72% of Indian employers interviewed intend to hire freshers in the second half (July-December) of this year.

The 72% hiring intent represents a 4% increase from the first half of this year and a 7% rise compared to the second half of 2023, suggesting a gradually improving employment landscape for fresh talent, TeamLease EdTech’s ‘Career Outlook Report HY2’ (July-December 2024) has revealed.

The report is based on a survey of over 603 companies across India during April and June 2024.

“The increase in hiring intent for freshers is an encouraging sign. It reflects growing confidence among employers and presents valuable opportunities for fresh talent entering the workforce,” TeamLease EdTech founder and CEO Shantanu Rooj said.

Further, the report highlighted that e-commerce and technology start-ups, engineering and infrastructure, and retail are the top three industries showing intent to hire freshers in the second half of this year.

Geographically, Bengaluru leads with 74% of employers intending to hire freshers, followed by Mumbai at 60% and Chennai at 54%, it added.

In terms of job roles, the report said full-stack developer, Search Engine Optimisation executive, digital sales associate, and User Interface/User Experience designer have emerged as the most in-demand positions for freshers.

Employers are particularly seeking candidates with skills in cybersecurity, cloud computing, data analytics, and search engine optimisation, it stated.

The report also found that 70% of employers suggest enhancing curriculum with experiential learning, while 62% advocate for industry-academia partnerships to better align academic training with industry needs.

Manufacturing leads with 25% of employers planning to hire degree apprentices, followed by engineering and infrastructure at 19%, and construction and real estate at 11 per cent, it said.

“Aligning educational programs with industry requirements is crucial. The job market is evolving rapidly, with technology and digital skills taking center stage,” Rooj said.