DBT Bureau
Pune, 27 May 2025
The workforce landscape is evolving, with companies increasingly considering freshers as a critical talent pool to drive future growth. As businesses invest in entry-level talent to build a skilled and agile workforce, fresher hiring in the IT sector has gained strong momentum. Compared to last year, hiring has seen a 4% year-on-year increase in 2025 so far. Among sectors, IT – Hardware and Software has led the way, nearly doubling its share from 17% in 2024 to 34% in 2025, followed by FMCG (16%), Insurance (15%), and Pharma (11%) This surge reflects a growing shift towards skill-based hiring, with employers prioritizing candidates with hands-on experience and skills specific to the industry. The most in-demand roles for freshers in IT include Software Developers, Data Analysts, Cloud Support Associates, Cybersecurity Analysts, and DevOps Engineers. Freshers entering the IT sector can expect salary packages ranging from 3.5 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per annum, based on their skill set and role. For instance, Software Developers typically earn between Rs 2.8 lakh to Rs 8.2 lakh per annum. Web Developers’ salaries range from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8 lakh per annum for freshers. Additionally, cities like Bengaluru offer higher salaries, with junior roles paying approximately 23% above the national average.
Beyond metro cities, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are emerging and creating new opportunities for freshers in IT as well as Non-IT sectors. For instance, cities like Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Visakhapatnam, Indore, Lucknow, Kochi, Jaipur, and Vijayawada are witnessing remarkable growth, driven by a strong talent pool choosing to stay local rather than relocating to expensive, established tech centers. From a technology talent perspective, this shift is positioning smaller cities as key players in India’s tech-driven future. For instance, Coimbatore, Indore, Udaipur, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur and Chandigarh are evolving into IT hubs, with fresher salaries ranging from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per annum, slightly higher than those in metro cities. Additionally, cities like Nashik, Salem, and Vadodara are gaining prominence as preferred locations for Global Capability Centers (GCCs), further solidifying their role in India’s expanding tech landscape.
In the Indian GCCs ecosystem, firms are continuing their growth trajectory and fresh hiring trends are evolving, with a strong focus on young talent and diversity. According to “India’s Talent Takeoff-The GCC 4.0 story” report, 64% of GCCs anticipate a 1–20% increase in fresher hiring, ensuring a strategic expansion aligned with business needs in 2025. Meanwhile, 9% anticipate a surge of over 50%, signaling a future where freshers play a pivotal role in driving GCC innovation and growth. Among cities, Bengaluru stands out with the highest optimism for fresher hiring—17% of companies project an increase of more than 50%, indicating a more aggressive hiring approach compared to other cities in 2025.
As GCCs expand globally, with digital transformation and automation at the forefront, the demand for young talent is set to rise sharply in the coming years. By CY2030, 42% expect fresher hiring to surge by over 50%, underscoring a long-term commitment to building future-ready workforces and equipping young professionals with the skills needed for next-gen innovation. Among cities, Bengaluru leads the hiring momentum in the long term as well, with 49% projecting a 50%+ increase in fresher intake by CY2030, highlighting strong long-term optimism for talent growth.
Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, commented, “India Inc.’s focus on entry-level talent is a response to evolving industry demands, driven by advancements in automation, cybersecurity, and cloud transformation. Companies are not just hiring freshers to fill roles but strategically investing in them to build a future-ready workforce. The hiring momentum among Global Capability Centers (GCCs) reflects this shift, with fresh talent playing a pivotal role in driving innovation in digital security, intelligent automation, and scalable cloud solutions. Additionally, with an increasing number of women freshers entering critical roles in areas like Information Technology (IT), banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), manufacturing, and healthcare services, the gender gap at the entry level is narrowing, with a ratio of 47:53 (men: women), significantly better than the 95:5 (men: women).
