India's festive quarter is driving a notable uptick in entry-level hiring across digital advertising and marketing, with Programmatic Advertising Associate emerging as the most sought-after fresher role in New Delhi, recording a hiring intent of 50 per cent, according to a report released on 22 October 2026. The findings, published by TeamLease EdTech, highlight how brands ramping up festive campaign spends are creating structured demand for entry-level ad-tech talent nationwide.

City-Wise Demand and Sector Trends

In Mumbai, demand for the Digital Marketing Executive role led fresher hiring at 48 per cent. At the sector level, marketing and advertising recorded a fresher hiring intent of 59 per cent in HY2 2026, a modest pullback from 62 per cent in HY1 2026. The report notes that despite this moderation, the emphasis on specialised entry-level roles signals that employers increasingly value candidates who can demonstrate hands-on knowledge of digital advertising platforms, campaign performance metrics, and audience engagement strategies.

Top Roles and In-Demand Skills

Both Programmatic Advertising Associate and Digital Marketing Executive feature among the five leading fresher roles nationally, according to the TeamLease EdTech findings. Performance marketing analytics has emerged as a particularly relevant domain skill, with employers looking for candidates who understand campaign measurement, data interpretation, and performance-led decision-making. Core competencies such as campaign optimisation, audience targeting, media planning, search marketing, and ad performance analytics are now considered baseline requirements rather than differentiators.

Broader Fresher Hiring Outlook

Overall fresher hiring intent in India climbed to 75 per cent in HY2 2026, up from 73 per cent in HY1 2026, pointing to a broad-based improvement in entry-level employment appetite across sectors. 'This broader improvement underscores the importance of aligning education and training with evolving industry requirements,' the report stated. The data reinforces a structural shift in employer expectations — practical execution capability, rather than theoretical knowledge alone, is now the bar for entry into digital marketing roles.

What Freshers Should Do Next

The report advised aspiring ad-tech professionals to prioritise industry-aligned certifications and applied learning programmes to strengthen employability. Employers are specifically seeking candidates who can contribute immediately to data-led marketing and campaign execution, narrowing the window for candidates who lack demonstrated platform experience. This comes amid a wider trend of Indian companies front-loading hiring before the Diwali and year-end campaign cycles, when advertising budgets and execution timelines converge.