India’s job market shines in February, registering 41% year-on-year (YoY) growth, mainly driven by freshers hiring, said a report on Thursday. Notably, fresher hiring rose by 26% year-on-year (YoY) in February. This reflects sustained employer demand for entry-level talent, according to data by foundit (formerly Monster APAC and ME), Asia’s jobs and talent platform.
Notably, foundit Insights Tracker (FIT) is a monthly report that provides an in-depth analysis of online job postings on the foundit.in platform.
There has been 41% growth in hiring in February 2025 compared to a year ago, driven by the fresher job market which maintained steady growth, said the report.
IT – Hardware and Software remained the leader in fresher hiring, nearly doubling its share from 17% in 2024 to 34% in 2025, the report added. However, sectors such as BFSI and BPO/ITES experienced a drop in fresher hiring, reflecting changing industry priorities.
“The shift towards skill-based hiring is undeniable. Employers are increasingly prioritising candidates with practical expertise and industry-relevant skills,” said V Suresh, CEO, foundit.
Moreover, the report highlighted that the Recruitment and Staffing industry has also seen growth in fresher hiring. The report also highlighted the rising demand for fresh talent across various domains.
According to the report, Tier II cities like Nasik, Jaipur, Surat, Coimbatore, Indore, Kochi, Thane, Vadodara, Chandigarh, and Nagpur are becoming important hubs for job opportunities for freshers, beyond the major metropolitan areas.
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