Fresher hiring intent in India's marketing and advertising sector surged more than five-fold to 62 per cent in H1 2026, up from 11 per cent in the same period a year earlier, according to a report released on Wednesday, 20 May by TeamLease EdTech. The sharp uptick reflects a structural shift in employer demand toward analytics-led, AI-enabled, and digital operations-focused talent.

A Steady Climb Over Two Years

The data points to an accelerating trend rather than a one-off spike. TeamLease EdTech tracked fresher hiring intent across six consecutive half-year periods: 6 per cent in H1 2024, 9 per cent in H2 2024, 11 per cent in H1 2025, and 67 per cent in H2 2025, before settling at 62 per cent in H1 2026. The trajectory underscores how quickly the sector's talent appetite has pivoted away from traditional creative roles.

Roles in Demand

Emerging high-demand fresher designations identified in the report include Digital Campaign Analyst, AI Marketing Associate, Ads Operations Executive, and Market Research Assistant. These roles sit at the intersection of data interpretation, platform operations, and AI-assisted execution — skills that employers increasingly expect candidates to bring on day one.

Shantanu Rooj, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TeamLease EdTech, said: 'Entry-level hiring today is being shaped by campaign analytics, marketing automation, ad operations, and AI-assisted execution. Employers are looking for candidates who can work across platforms, interpret performance data, and contribute to revenue-focused digital strategies from day one.' He also highlighted the growing relevance of work-linked and industry-aligned learning models in preparing freshers for these evolving roles.

City-Level Hiring Hotspots

Pune recorded the highest hiring demand for Ads Operations Executives at 51 per cent, reflecting the city's expanding ad-tech ecosystem. Hyderabad led demand for Digital Campaign Analysts at 47 per cent, driven by employer focus on campaign measurement and performance optimisation. Bengaluru and Mumbai remained key hubs for digital marketing and performance-driven hiring, supported by robust activity across advertising, technology, and consumer sectors.

The Bigger Picture: Digital Ad Market Expansion

The report projected India's digital advertising market reaching ₹1.12 lakh crore by 2025, a figure that is already accelerating demand for digitally skilled marketing professionals. This comes amid a broader industry shift away from traditional brand-led and creative execution-focused hiring toward data-oriented, technology-enabled functions — a change that is reshaping campus recruitment strategies across the sector.

Notably, this is the first time fresher hiring intent in the sector has crossed the 60 per cent mark, signalling that digital marketing is no longer a supplementary function but a core business driver. As brands deepen investments in social commerce, creator-led ecosystems, and performance campaigns, the demand for entry-level digital talent is expected to hold firm through the second half of the year.