Synopsis
India's job market saw a significant uptick in February 2025, with a 10% increase in hiring, particularly for freshers. The trend indicates a shift towards prioritizing skills over formal degrees, creating opportunities for graduates to enhance their employability.Key Takeaways
- 10% month-over-month hiring growth in February 2025.
- Shift towards skills-based hiring over formal qualifications.
- Entry-level positions maintained a 6% increase in hiring.
- IT hardware and software sectors saw a doubling in freshers' hiring share.
- Tier-2 cities are emerging as key job hubs for freshers.
Bengaluru, March 6 (NationPress) The job market in India experienced a 10% increase in hiring during February 2025, continuing its positive trajectory, as reported on Thursday.
The analysis, derived from the latest data provided by the jobs and talent platform foundit, indicates that there is a growing emphasis on fresher hiring, with employers now favoring skills, certifications, and industry-specific knowledge over traditional degrees.
The percentage of job postings that focus on competencies instead of qualifications has surged from 4% in 2023 to 14% in 2025, signaling a transition towards a skills-based workforce that aligns with changing industry needs.
"The movement towards skill-focused hiring is unmistakable. Employers are increasingly looking for candidates equipped with practical skills and relevant industry experience," stated V Suresh, CEO of foundit.
“This opens up significant opportunities for recent graduates to concentrate on acquiring valued skills, obtaining certifications, and creating strong portfolios that showcase their talents, ultimately helping them stand out in a rapidly changing job market," he added.
The report highlighted that the fresher job market in India showed consistent growth in February, with a 6% month-over-month increase in hiring, reflecting ongoing demand from employers for entry-level professionals.
In terms of sectors, IT hardware and software led the way in fresher hiring, nearly doubling their share from 17% in 2024 to 34% in 2025. Additionally, the recruitment and staffing sector has also experienced significant growth in fresher hiring, underscoring the escalating demand for new talent across various fields.
Conversely, sectors like BFSI and BPO/ITES have seen a decline in fresher hiring, indicative of shifting industry priorities. IT remains the most sought-after field, although its share has seen a slight decline.
Roles in sales and business development, marketing and communications, and medical sectors have gained popularity, with marketing and communications now representing 11% of fresher job listings, marking a considerable rise from previous years.
Outside major urban centers, Tier-2 cities such as Nasik, Jaipur, Surat, Coimbatore, Indore, Kochi, Thane, Vadodara, Chandigarh, and Nagpur are emerging as significant hubs for fresher job opportunities.
The salary landscape for freshers in February 2025 shows varied growth across industries. The animation, gaming, and medical/healthcare sectors lead with 15% and 8% year-on-year increases, respectively, while also offering competitive average salary ranges.
In February 2025, the import and export as well as BPO sectors witnessed the highest month-over-month hiring growth at 14%, followed by energy at 12% and logistics and transportation at 11%.
