Bengaluru: India’s job market continued its upward momentum in February 2025, with hiring growing 10% month-over-month (MoM), according to the latest insights from foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME), Asia’s leading jobs and talent platform. This trend is particularly evident in fresher hiring, where employers are increasingly prioritising skills, certifications, and industry-specific expertise over formal degrees. The share of job listings prioritising competencies over qualifications has risen from 4% in 2023 to 14% in 2025, reflecting a shift towards a more skills-driven workforce in line with evolving industry demands.
“The shift towards skill-based hiring is undeniable,” stated V Suresh, CEO, foundit. “Employers are increasingly prioritising candidates with practical expertise and industry-relevant skills. This presents a valuable opportunity for recent graduates to focus on acquiring in-demand skills, earning certifications, and building robust portfolios that highlight their capabilities, ultimately enabling them to differentiate themselves in an ever-evolving job market.”
Fresher Hiring Trends
India’s fresher job market maintained steady growth in February 2025, with hiring rising 6% month-over-month (MoM), reflecting sustained employer demand for entry-level talent.
Among sectors, IT – Hardware & Software continued to lead fresher hiring, nearly doubling its share from 17% in 2024 to 34% in 2025.
Top Hiring Industries for Freshers
| Industry | % Share of Fresher Jobs | ||
| Feb-23 | Feb-24 | Feb-25 | |
| IT- Hardware, Software | 23% | 17% | 34% |
| Recruitment, Staffing | 3% | 3% | 8% |
| BFSI | 9% | 9% | 7% |
| Education/ Edtech | 2% | 3% | 6% |
| BPO/ ITES | 14% | 12% | 5% |
| Advertising, Market Research, Public Relations (PR) | 2% | 3% | 5% |
The recruitment and staffing industry have also seen notable growth in fresher hiring, highlighting the rising demand for fresh talent across various domains. Meanwhile, sectors such as BFSI and BPO/ITES have experienced a decline in fresher hiring, reflecting changing industry priorities.
Top Hiring Functions for Freshers
| Function | % Share of Fresher Jobs | ||
| Feb-23 | Feb-24 | Feb-25 | |
| IT | 32% | 27% | 26% |
| HR & Admin | 17% | 4% | 6% |
| Sales & BD | 13% | 21% | 18% |
| Engineering / Production | 9% | 4% | 6% |
| Finance & Accounting | 9% | 7% | 5% |
| Medical Roles | 4% | 8% | 7% |
| Marketing & Communications | 4% | 8% | 11% |
Across job functions, IT remains the most in-demand field, though its share has slightly dipped. Sales & Business Development, Marketing & Communications, and Medical roles have gained traction, with Marketing & Communications now accounting for 11% of fresher job postings—a significant increase from previous years.
Top Hiring Locations for Freshers
| Location | % Share of Fresher Jobs | ||
| Feb-23 | Feb-24 | Feb-25 | |
| Delhi / NCR | 18% | 19% | 20% |
| Mumbai | 12% | 10% | 16% |
| Bengaluru | 14% | 13% | 12% |
| Chennai | 8% | 8% | 5% |
| Pune | 8% | 7% | 12% |
| Hyderabad | 8% | 7% | 6% |
| Kolkata | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Ahmedabad | 5% | 4% | 2% |
Beyond the major metropolitan areas, Tier-2 cities like Nasik, Jaipur, Surat, Coimbatore, Indore, Kochi, Thane, Vadodara, Chandigarh, and Nagpur are also emerging as key locations for fresher job opportunities.
Top-Paying Industries for Freshers
Fresher salaries in February 2025 reveal a diverse landscape across industries. Animation & Gaming and Medical/Healthcare sectors lead in YoY growth, showcasing a 15% and 8% increase respectively, while also offering competitive average salary ranges.
| Industry | Avg-Min-Salary (₹ LPA) | Avg-Max-Salary (₹ LPA) | YoY Growth in Salary |
| Animation & Gaming | 342,094 | 620,256 | 15% |
| Medical, Healthcare, Hospitals | 1,317,962 | 1,849,073 | 8% |
| Retail | 303,705 | 490,457 | 8% |
| Semiconductors, Electronics | 293,229 | 592,343 | 7% |
| Fertilisers & Pesticides | 330,643 | 544,800 | 5% |
| GCCs | 232,047 | 438,914 | 3% |
In addition to the above industries, Strategy/Management Consulting and IT-Software roles provide the highest earning potential for fresh graduates. However, the IT-Software and Internet/Ecommerce sectors experienced a slight decrease of (-5%) each in year-over-year (YoY) salary growth. The Insurance and Recruitment/Staffing industries experienced the most significant decline (-12%) in salaries for fresh graduates compared to the previous year.
Key Sectors Surge: Import & Export, BPO, and Consumer Electronics Lead Job Growth
In February 2025, the Import & Export and BPO sectors recorded the strongest month-over-month (MoM) hiring growth at 14%, followed by Energy at 12%, and Logistics & Transportation at 11%.
On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, Consumer Electronics led with an impressive 84% increase in hiring, followed by Manufacturing (67%), Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals (65%), and Real Estate (52%). Energy and Logistics & Transportation also showed robust YoY hiring growth of around 40%.
Location Hiring Trends: Pune and Bangalore Lead the Way
Pune led in month-over-month (MoM) hiring growth at 6.7%, followed closely by Ahmedabad at 6.3%, indicating strong regional expansion. Looking at year-over-year (YoY) hiring numbers, Bangalore saw the sharpest rise in hiring at 43%, followed by Hyderabad (40%), and Pune (39%). Chandigarh and Delhi-NCR also posted strong YoY hiring growth, at 34% and 31% respectively, highlighting steady hiring demand in these metropolitan areas.
Hiring Demand Trends Across Experience Levels
| Hiring Demand By Experience Level | |
| Entry Level (0-3) | 6% |
| Associate-Level (4-6 Years) | 4% |
| Mid-Senior Level (7-10 Years) | 10% |
| Senior-Level Roles (11-15 Years) | 3% |
| Executive-Level Positions (16+ Years) | 0% |
While entry-level positions saw a modest increase, mid-senior level roles (7-10 years) experienced the most significant hiring growth at 10%, suggesting a focus on experienced professionals to drive innovation and growth.
