Fresh graduate hiring in India up 5% amid IT sector improvements

NEW DELHI, INDIA — The demand for fresh graduates in India surged by 5% over the past six months, driven by gradual improvements in the IT sector, according to a report released by job platform foundit.
This trend is largely attributed to ongoing restructuring efforts within the industry, focusing on adopting new technologies, optimizing costs, enhancing innovation, and ensuring scalability.
IT and staffing industries lead entry-level recruitment
The report highlights that the IT and staffing industries have the highest share of job postings for freshers, with over 32% and 12% of jobs, respectively, dedicated to entry-level professionals.
This data, collected from May 2023 to May 2024, indicates a significant shift in hiring strategies within the IT sector, particularly in the hardware and software domains.
Startups embrace fresh talent
Startups in the IT services and internet industry are at the forefront of fresh graduate hiring, with 23% and 22% of jobs directed to new graduates, respectively.
Despite a decline in IT jobs in the last quarter, engineering graduates remain in high demand, accounting for 28% of jobs in startups alone.
Other roles being actively hired across startups include consultants (10%), sales/executive managers (4%), and operations executives/managers (4%).
“We’re seeing a clear trend where startups and other companies are increasingly valuing skills over just academic credentials. This shift means that young professionals need to focus on acquiring relevant skills to stand out in the competitive job market,” said Sekhar Garisa, CEO of foundit.
India’s metropolitan cities dominate fresher hiring
The report also reveals that Delhi-NCR hosts the highest share of job postings for freshers at 21%, followed by Bengaluru at 14%.
Other metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad each recorded 8% of the fresh graduate job postings, underscoring the concentration of opportunities in urban centers.
The 5% growth in fresh grad hiring amid improvements in the IT sector signals a positive trend for new graduates entering the job market.
With a focus on skills and innovation, the industry is poised to continue evolving, offering ample opportunities for young professionals.