The e-commerce and technology startup sector has an impressive intent of 88% towards fresher hiring for the July to December 2025 period, as per the Career Outlook report (HY2 2025) by TeamLease EdTech.
The report highlighted the opportunities available for first-time employees in various industries. The retail and manufacturing sectors are leading the race of intent of fresher hiring at 87% and 82% respectively. Geographically, Bangalore is driving the race with 81% intent, followed by Mumbai (67%) and Chennai (59%).
Compared to the first half of 2025 (January to June), the hiring intent for the July to December 2025 period has gone down by 4% to a steady 70%. However, opportunities within high-growth sectors remain strong. The report attributed the shift to AI-led workforce restructuring, changing macroeconomic factors, and the strategic focus on retaining experienced employees in core industries by surveying 1,065 employees and employers.
In the report, TeamLease EdTech highlighted the rise in the demand for degree apprentices. The demand for the same in the manufacturing industries stands at 37%, followed by engineering and infrastructure at 29% and information technology at 18%.
“The strong hiring intent in e-commerce and technology startups reflects the dynamic growth in this sector, creating exciting opportunities for freshers. As industries evolve with technology, freshers who blend technical expertise with adaptability and human skills will find themselves well-positioned,” said Shantanu Rooj, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TeamLease EdTech.
“The rise in degree apprenticeship programmes further underscores the demand for practical, skill-based learning pathways.”
The intent for apprenticeship hiring is being driven by Bangalore at 37%, followed by Chennai and Pune at 30% and 26% respectively. Smaller companies also seem more inclined towards hiring freshers when compared to their bigger counterparts, even though their hiring capacity remains limited.
Roles like IoT Engineer, cloud engineer, process automation analyst, junior NLP developer, content marketing executive, and junior actuarial analyst remain high in demand. The popularity highlights the continued importance of skills within the respective fields.
