New Delhi, Feb 18 (NationPress) Approximately 73 percent of employers plan to recruit fresh graduates between January and June 2026, reflecting a 3 percent increase from the previous six months, as reported on Wednesday. This trend indicates a shift toward recruitment processes that emphasize demonstrated skills, according to TeamLease EdTech.

The sectors showing the highest hiring intentions include retail at 91 percent, followed closely by e-commerce and technology startups at 90 percent, and manufacturing at 85 percent.

Notably, the roles that are most in demand within retail are dark store assistants and inventory management assistants; in the e-commerce and startup sectors, the focus is on digital sales associates and junior web developers; while manufacturing seeks inventory and logistics coordinators and battery assembly technicians.

Shantanu Rooj, Founder and CEO of TeamLease EdTech, stated, "The current divide is between those candidates who can showcase applied skills and those who cannot." He noted that certain sectors are experiencing rapid growth, with retail hiring intentions soaring by 50 percentage points, from 41 percent in H1CY25 to 91 percent in H1CY26.

Rooj emphasized that the market is undergoing a structural reset and recommended that proof of work be integrated into educational paths.

Fresh graduates with internships, project portfolios, or practical experience are advancing more quickly in their careers, while those who rely solely on degrees are encountering longer job search periods, he explained.

Furthermore, the intent to hire freshers in the travel sector has surged from 26 percent to 77 percent, while the power and energy sectors have seen an increase from 22 percent to 72 percent.

In terms of geography, Bengaluru leads in fresh graduate hiring intentions at 84 percent, driven by Information Technology at 81 percent and e-commerce & technology startups at 90 percent.

The engineering & infrastructure sector is also showing a strong demand for fresh talent, particularly for roles like software testing engineers (54 percent) and digital marketing executives (48 percent).

Mumbai follows closely at 72 percent, supported by retail at 91 percent, FMCG at 80 percent, and healthcare & pharmaceuticals at 52 percent, according to the report.

To enhance employability, in-demand courses include Certification in Business Analysis, AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, AI-enabled Digital Marketing, and Project Management, as suggested by the firm.