There is an increase of six per cent in HY1 of 2024 vs HY1 of 2023 (68% vs 62%) in freshers hiring in India, claims Career Outlook Report HY1 (January - June 2024) by TeamLease EdTech, a learning and employability solutions provider. Additionally, the report added, the overall hiring intent for all categories of job seekers has risen marginally to 79.3%. Such sustained growth implies a positive job market in the coming months for freshers, the report said. As per the report, the top three industries with the highest hiring intent for freshers are e-commerce and technology start-ups with 55 per cent followed by engineering and infrastructure and telecommunications (50%) with 53 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. The IT industry, however, has seen an overall decrease in the intent to hire freshers compared to COR HY2 2023 (42% in HY1 2024 vs 49% in HY2 2023). Also, sectors like media and entertainment have seen a decrease of three per cent, while travel and hospitality has shown a four per cent increase (HY1 2024 vs HY2 2023). Roles including graphic designer, legal associate, chemical engineer and digital marketing executive are in high demand across industries for freshers. Among cities, Bangalore leads the way with a hiring intent of 69 per cent, followed by Mumbai at 58 per cent and Chennai at 51 per cent. Delhi is at 45 per cent, an increase of two per cent from HY2 2023. However, the demand for newer talent currently stands at 68 per cent, a marginal increase of three per cent for the current HY1 (Jan-Jun 2024) over HY2 (Jul-Dec 2023). Impact of GenAI This time, the report also deep-dives into the impact of GenAI on freshers’ job landscape. It highlights that rather than being replaced outright; jobs are evolving through human-AI collaboration. Crucially, continuous learning and adaptability will be vital as freshers enter an era of continuous technological advancement powered by Generative AI. Roles such as Software Developers, Technical Writers, Legal Assistants, Market Research Analysts, and Graphic Designers are expected to be transformed. Freshers need to proactively upgrade their skills and be open to working alongside Generative AI to remain relevant and harness its potential. The survey covers 526 small, medium, and large companies across 18 industries across India. The coverage is spread across 14 geographical areas (metros, tier-1 and tier-2), reflecting the hiring sentiment.
