When the United Nations General Assembly declared August 12 as International Youth Day in the late 1990s, the objective was to draw greater attention to youth-related issues and create space for young people to participate in discussions regarding their future. This decision followed a recommendation from the ‘World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth,’ held in Lisbon in 1998. Over the years, International Youth Day has focused on various issues affecting young people, including education, employment, health, political participation, and other socio-economic concerns.
More than two decades later, the question of what opportunities await young people entering the workforce has become more critical than ever. In India, recent hiring data indicates that while the overall landscape for freshers has improved, this progress is uneven. Some industries are rapidly expanding their entry-level hiring plans, while others are proceeding with greater caution; this highlights that the key question in the job market is no longer just whether young people can find employment, but rather which sectors are generating these opportunities and what skills are required.
Data from the TeamLease EdTech Career Outlook Report reveals a positive shift in India’s entry-level job market; the overall intent to hire freshers has risen to 75% (up from 73% in the previous half-year).
However, this growth is not uniform. The traditional dominance of white-collar IT hiring is changing, However, this growth is not uniform. The traditional dominance of white-collar IT hiring is shifting, and young Indians are finding opportunities across a diverse range of sectors, such as consumer-facing industries, the industrial sector, and digital commerce.
E-commerce, Retail, and Manufacturing are Seeing the Highest Levels of Hiring for Freshers.
Hiring intent is not limited solely to the technology sector. This figure stands at 93% for e-commerce, technology start-ups, and the retail sector, while it is 89% for manufacturing. It is 86% for FMCG and 81% for the travel and hospitality sector.
The report reveals that hiring intent in e-commerce and technology start-ups rose from 90% in the first half of 2026 to 93% in the second half. In retail, it increased from 91% to 93%, while in manufacturing, it rose from 85% to 89%. FMCG saw a six-percentage-point increase (from 80% to 86%), and the travel and hospitality sector saw a rise from 77% to 81%.
Hiring Continues in the IT sector, Though the Demand for Freshers has Declined.
The situation differs in some traditional sectors that employ graduates. Hiring intent in the IT sector stands at 76 percent, down from 81 percent in HY1 2026, representing a 5 percent drop.
Similarly, this figure has fallen from 22 percent to 19 percent in consulting, from 23 percent to 21 percent in education services, from 54 percent to 52 percent in media and entertainment, from 62 percent to 59 percent in marketing and advertising, and from 64 percent to 61 percent in telecom.
What Kind of Jobs are Emerging for Freshers?
The roles currently in demand also shed light on how the entry-level job market is evolving. According to the report, the top five roles for freshers are:
| AI Application Developer |
| Junior Semiconductor Design Engineer |
| Data Center Operations Associate |
| Programmatic Advertising Associate |
| Inventory and Dispatch Executive |
The broader list includes roles such as Cybersecurity Analyst, Full-stack Developer, Quick-commerce Operations Executive, Digital Media Analyst, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Digital Marketing Executive, Data Research Analyst, Automation and Control Engineer, Supply Chain Planner, and GIS Analyst. GIS Analysts analyze areas, infrastructure, and other geographical information using mapping and location-based data.
Also Read: AICTE Opens Registration for Mitacs Globalink Research Internship 2027; Check Application Deadline
