TeamLease EdTech’s Career Outlook Report HY1 highlights the top five most in-demand skills that freshers and young professionals need to thrive in today’s rapidly transforming job landscape. The comprehensively constructed report is rooted in an extensive survey of 649 companies and in-depth hiring trend analysis conducted across diverse industries and cities in India.
As India’s job market leans increasingly towards skills-based hiring, the emerging trends clearly indicate that employers are prioritizing both technical and human-centric capabilities to future-proof talent. The report outlines five standout skills poised to shape fresher employability in 2025.
Leading the list is Robotic Process Automation (RPA), reflecting the widespread adoption of automation across manufacturing, logistics, and IT sectors. With roles like Robotics System Engineer gaining prominence and RPA tools becoming mainstream in industrial and enterprise settings, this skill is no longer niche but foundational. Similarly, Prompt Engineering is fast becoming indispensable in AI-driven roles. With freshers being hired as Prompt Engineers and Product Analysts, this skill is central to leveraging generative AI tools effectively, a space where employers and job seekers alike are rapidly upskilling.
Network Security ranks high on the list due to the growing demand for cybersecurity resilience across industries. Roles like Network Security Analyst and Information Security Analyst are seeing strong hiring intent in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai. As digital threats rise, so does the value of professionals who can protect systems and data integrity.
The report also underscores the increasing relevance of Computational Thinking, a structured approach to problem-solving. This mindset is highly sought after in roles such as Data Analyst, Junior Software Developer, and AI/ML Engineer, where breaking complex problems into manageable parts is crucial for innovation. Alongside this, Adaptability and Flexibility stand out as core human skills. In an economy marked by sectoral flux where healthcare, e-commerce, and renewable energy are expanding simultaneously, candidates who can navigate ambiguity and pivot quickly are in high demand.
Beyond highlighting skills, the report maps the evolving geography of opportunity. Cities like Bangalore (78%), Mumbai (65%), and Chennai (57%) are leading in fresher hiring intent. Industry-wise, E-commerce & Technology Startups (70%), Manufacturing (66%), and Engineering & Infrastructure (62%) are aggressively onboarding new talent.
Sharing his insights on the findings, Shantanu Rooj, Founder & CEO of TeamLease EdTech, said, “There is a clear shift towards hybrid skillsets – where technical expertise like RPA, Prompt Engineering, Network Security, and similar skillsets must be matched with adaptability and computational thinking. To stay relevant, freshers must not only upskill for today’s roles and demands but also provision for agility to evolve with tomorrow’s demands. Employers are seeking job-ready talent but increasingly prefer candidates that they view are future-proof.”
As India navigates an era defined by automation, sustainability, and deep tech, the role of purposeful skilling becomes even more critical. The report is a clarion call for educational institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders to double down on outcome-driven learning.
