E-commerce and technology startups are expected to drive fresher hiring in India during the second half of 2025, according to the latest Career Outlook Report (HY2 2025) released by TeamLease EdTech.
The report, based on a survey of 1,065 employers across sectors conducted between May and July, reveals that 88% of employers in these sectors intend to recruit freshers between July and December 2025.
Retail and manufacturing sectors follow closely, with 87% and 82% of employers respectively expressing hiring intent.
Despite a slight dip in overall fresher hiring—from 74% in the first half of the year to 70% in the second half—the demand for entry-level talent remains robust in high-growth industries.
Sector-Wise Breakdown: Startups, Retail, and Core Industries
The report highlights that e-commerce and tech startups continue to expand aggressively, creating new roles that require a blend of technical proficiency and adaptability.
Retail, buoyed by consumer demand and digital transformation, is also investing in fresh talent to support omnichannel operations and customer engagement.
Manufacturing, traditionally slower to adopt fresher hiring, has shown notable improvement, driven by increased automation, supply chain modernization, and the rise of apprenticeship programs.
Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), engineering and infrastructure, and IT services also maintain strong hiring intent, with figures ranging between 75% and 77%.
Apprenticeship Programs Gain Traction
One of the key trends identified in the report is the growing popularity of degree apprenticeship programs.
These programs offer practical, skill-based learning pathways and are increasingly being adopted by employers to bridge the gap between academic training and industry requirements.
Manufacturing leads apprenticeship hiring with 37% intent, followed by engineering and infrastructure (29%) and information technology (18%).
Cities such as Bengaluru (37%), Chennai (30%), and Pune (26%) are at the forefront of apprenticeship recruitment, reflecting regional hubs of industrial and tech activity.
Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech, noted, “The strong hiring intent in e-commerce and technology startups reflects the dynamic growth in these sectors.”
He added, “As industries evolve with technology, freshers who blend technical expertise with adaptability and human skills will find themselves well-positioned.”
City-Level Hiring Trends and Employer Preferences
Bengaluru leads the fresher hiring landscape with 81% employer intent, followed by Mumbai (67%), Chennai (59%), Hyderabad (54%), and Delhi (48%).
Smaller organizations are showing a stronger inclination to hire freshers compared to larger enterprises, although their hiring capacity remains limited.
The report also indicates a shift in employer preferences, with a growing focus on specialized skill sets such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and business analytics.
Roles like IoT engineer, junior NLP developer, process automation analyst, and content marketing executive are among the most in-demand for freshers.
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