Specialised skills to drive 20-25% growth in IT fresher hiring

Fresher hiring, which has been subdued as Indian information technology (IT) services firms scaled back their recruitment, is set for a turnaround. The IT sector's fresher hiring is expected to rise by 20-25 per cent for 2024-25 (FY25).

- SHIVANI SHINDE

Additionally, the global capability centres are projected to boost their fresher hiring by 40 per cent compared to last year, according to a TeamLease Digital analysis.

The analysis also highlights that the increase in hiring is driven by a focus on specialised skills catering to segments like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data analytics. TeamLease added that this emphasis on skills spans experience levels.

TeamLease Digital's insights reveal that the demand for data-related roles has surged due to the rising prominence of AI, ML, and automation skills. This trend is particularly evident in the sizeable increase in job postings for data scientists, with nearly 69 per cent mentioning ML skills in 2024.

Skills in natural language processing have also gained traction, with demand jumping from 5 per cent in 2024 to 19 per cent in 2025, indicating a broad industry shift towards AI-driven solutions. Moreover, there is a growing need for skills such as Python programming, ethical hacking, penetration testing, Agile Scrum Master, AWS Security, and JavaScript, reflecting the evolving landscape of tech hiring.