India’s e-commerce and technology startups are poised to lead a fresher hiring wave in the second half of 2025, with 88 per cent of employers in these sectors showing strong intent to recruit, according to TeamLease EdTech’s Career Outlook Report (HY2 2025), released on Tuesday.
The findings signal robust demand for fresh graduates and early-career professionals, particularly in growth-driven industries.
Retail (87 per cent) and manufacturing (82 per cent) sectors follow closely behind, reflecting a broad hiring appetite across the economic landscape.
“The strong hiring intent in e-commerce and technology startups reflects the dynamic growth in this sector, creating exciting opportunities for freshers,” said Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech.
He further added that the evolving industry landscape now demands professionals who can blend technical capabilities with adaptability and soft skills.
“The rise in degree apprenticeship programmes further underscores the need for practical, skill-based learning pathways,” Rooj noted.
Hiring Intent Sees Slight Dip but Remains Resilient
Despite overall optimism, the report highlighted a slight dip in overall fresher hiring intent, down to 70 per cent for July–December 2025 from 74 per cent in the first half of the year.
AI-driven workforce restructuring, global trade uncertainties, and companies strategically focusing on retaining experienced talent in core industries have caused this decline.
Nonetheless, the outlook for freshers remains healthy in high-growth sectors such as technology, retail, and manufacturing.
The report also noted a growing emphasis on degree apprenticeships, especially in manufacturing (37 per cent), engineering and infrastructure (29 per cent), and IT (18 per cent).
Industry and academia increasingly view these structured, skill-focused programmes as a bridge connecting the two.
Cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune are emerging as hotspots for apprenticeship recruitment, with 37 per cent, 30 per cent, and 26 per cent of employers in these cities expressing intent to hire apprentices.
Interestingly, the report points to smaller organisations displaying stronger intent to hire freshers compared to larger enterprises. However, their overall capacity to recruit remains limited due to scale and resource constraints.
Based on inputs from 1,065 employers across various sectors between May and July 2025, the Career Outlook Report provides a comprehensive snapshot of India’s evolving employment landscape for entry-level professionals.
As the second half of 2025 unfolds, young job seekers entering the market are likely to find fertile ground, especially in industries that are leveraging digital transformation and innovation to drive growth.
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