Fresher jobs in India look better in the second half of 2026 than the first: 75% of employers plan to hire freshers between July and December, up from 73% in the previous six months. The finding comes from the TeamLease EdTech fresher hiring outlook for H2 2026, based on a survey of 1,097 employers. The bigger shift is where the jobs are. E-commerce, retail and manufacturing now rank above IT. If you are a final-year student or a recent graduate, this changes where you should apply.
Key Facts Box
- 75% of surveyed employers plan to hire freshers in H2 2026 (July-December), up from 73% in the prior six months.
- The TeamLease EdTech survey covered 1,097 employers.
- E-commerce and technology start-ups, and retail, lead at 93% hiring intent each.
- Manufacturing is at 89%, FMCG at 86%, travel and hospitality at 81%, and IT at 76%.
- Degree apprenticeship intent is highest in manufacturing (48%), then engineering and infrastructure (41%) and IT (27%).
- Top fresher roles named include AI Application Developer and Junior Semiconductor Design Engineer.
- Employers say hiring is moving from qualification-led to capability-led.
How Many Employers Are Hiring Freshers in H2 2026?
Three in four employers (75%) plan to hire freshers in July-December 2026. That is two points higher than the 73% recorded for the first half of the year. It is a modest rise, but it points the right way after a year in which overall white-collar hiring has been described as steady rather than strong.
The survey was run by TeamLease EdTech and reported by ANI. It measures intent, not confirmed offers. Treat the numbers as a guide to where competition for your CV will be lower, not as a guarantee of a job.
Which Sectors Are Hiring Freshers Most?
E-commerce and technology start-ups and retail are the two most fresher-friendly sectors, each at 93% hiring intent. Manufacturing follows at 89% and FMCG at 86%. IT, long the default choice for graduates, sits lower at 76%.
Full sector ranking by hiring intent
- E-commerce and technology start-ups: 93%
- Retail: 93%
- Manufacturing: 89%
- FMCG: 86%
- Travel and hospitality: 81%
- Information Technology: 76%
- Power and energy: 74%
- Engineering and infrastructure: 66%
- Construction and real estate: 64%
- Telecommunications: 61%
- Marketing and advertising: 59%
- Healthcare and pharmaceuticals: 54%
- Logistics: 53%
- Media and entertainment: 52%
The takeaway is simple. If you have only been applying to IT services firms, widen the net to retail, e-commerce and manufacturing companies.
Which Fresher Roles Are in Demand?
The report names five leading entry-level roles: AI Application Developer, Junior Semiconductor Design Engineer, Data Centre Operations Associate, Programmatic Advertising Associate, and Inventory and Dispatch Executive. They span tech, hardware, operations and marketing, so there is an entry point whatever your degree.
Notice how practical these titles are. None is a vague “management trainee” slot. Each maps to a skill you can show in a project or internship.
Which Skills Do Employers Want From Freshers?
Employers want practical, job-ready skills over degree labels. The report lists five specialised skills in demand: full-stack engineering, cloud security, business analytics, healthcare technology, and sustainability and ESG.
Beyond technical skills, employers prioritise practical skills, digital readiness, adaptability, accountability and critical thinking. The report’s own summary is that hiring is “increasingly shifting from qualification-led recruitment towards capability-led hiring.”
How to act on this
- Pick one specialised skill from the list above and build a small, visible project with it.
- Show soft skills through evidence: a team project, a club role, an internship outcome.
- Rewrite your CV around what you can do, with the degree as supporting detail.
What Are Degree Apprenticeships and Who Offers Them?
Degree apprenticeships let you earn while you study, and manufacturing is the strongest sector for them. Hiring intent for degree apprenticeships is 48% in manufacturing, 41% in engineering and infrastructure, and 27% in IT.
If you want a low-debt route into a core industry, these programmes deserve a look. Check each employer’s official careers page for eligibility and stipend details, since the report does not publish salary figures.
What Should Final-Year Students Do Now?
- Apply beyond IT: set alerts for e-commerce, retail, FMCG and manufacturing roles.
- Choose one in-demand skill and finish a project within 30 days.
- Look for degree apprenticeship openings if you are in engineering or a core stream.
- Do an internship even if it is short; it is the clearest proof of capability.
FAQs
Q. How many employers plan to hire freshers in H2 2026?
Ans. About 75% of employers plan to hire freshers between July and December 2026, according to the TeamLease EdTech survey of 1,097 employers. That is up from 73% in the previous six months.
Q. Which sectors are hiring the most freshers in India?
Ans. E-commerce and technology start-ups and retail lead at 93% hiring intent each. Manufacturing (89%) and FMCG (86%) come next, ahead of IT at 76%.
Q. Which fresher jobs are in demand in 2026?
Ans. The report names AI Application Developer, Junior Semiconductor Design Engineer, Data Centre Operations Associate, Programmatic Advertising Associate, and Inventory and Dispatch Executive as leading entry-level roles.
Q. What skills should freshers learn for jobs in India?
Ans. Employers named full-stack engineering, cloud security, business analytics, healthcare technology, and sustainability and ESG as in-demand specialised skills. They also stress adaptability, accountability and critical thinking.
Q. Are degree apprenticeships available in India?
Ans. Yes. Employers show 48% hiring intent for degree apprenticeships in manufacturing, 41% in engineering and infrastructure, and 27% in IT, per the same survey.
Conclusion / Next Steps
Fresher jobs in India are opening up outside IT, and employers care more about what you can do than where you studied. Choose one skill, build proof, and apply across e-commerce, retail and manufacturing as well as tech. Check back for updates as new hiring reports are released.
Sources: TeamLease EdTech, Fresher Hiring Outlook H2 2026 (July-December), as reported by ANI via NewKerala.com, “Fresher hiring outlook seen strong in e-commerce, retail, manufacturing.”