There is a 30% spike in employers’ intent to hire freshers in H1 2022 (January-June 2022) as compared to the previous half year.

While only 17% companies were keen to increase their fresher pool in H2 of 2021 ((July-December 2021), more than 47% companies have expressed their intent to hire freshers in the in the current half year, reveals the “Career Outlook Report” by TeamLease EdTech for the period January-June, 2022.

Information and technology (57% employers willing to hire) is leading as the top sector that intends to hire freshers during the said period followed by telecommunications (43%) and ecommerce and technology startups (41%). Another sector which has seen an up-tick in the hiring sentiment is hospitality and travel (by 2%).

“The IT sector dominates the job market for freshers, offering 31% entry-level jobs. Hiring intent in IT increased by 26% this period (57% vs 31%),” says the survey.

From cities perspective, Bengaluru has emerged as the most favourable city for freshers with 59% companies keen to increase their hiring. Additionally, Mumbai (43%) and Delhi (39%) are also the top cities for freshers.

Skills imperative for freshers to get right jobs

Data Analytics, investment banking, cyber security, AR/VR and content writing will be most sought after, while job roles like digital marketing executive, artificial intelligence engineer, technical writer, full stack developer and supply chain analyst will be in demand, says the report.

“Technical skills are what companies are looking for. However, we have seen an interesting shift over the last few years. Today soft skills are receiving the same level of attention. In fact, organizations focus equally or more on the soft skills as much as they focus on hard skills while hiring employees. When it comes to freshers, companies are on the lookout for candidates who are equipped with skills like analytical thinking and innovation, stress management, communication skills, emotional intelligence and positive attitude,” says Neeti Sharma, co-founder and president of TeamLease Edtech said.

“It is heart-warming to see that despite the continued challenges of the pandemic, the inclination of companies to hire freshers continues to be on an upward trajectory. The 30% overall jump in hiring sentiment is a reflection of this growth. The economic revival and focus on growth are the key reasons driving the upbeat movement,” says Shantanu Rooj, founder & CEO, TeamLease EdTech.

“The initiatives taken on the academic front to create skilled talent by bridging the skill gap, is also aiding the hiring positivity. Universities are increasingly adopting technology amalgamated with skill based vocational learning and apprenticeship linked degrees which will enable our youth as well as increase the confidence of corporates in freshers,” he adds.