Yes, you read that right. Sounds strange? But this paradox is precisely what India’s young people seeking their maiden jobs confront every single day. The figures indicate an even stranger phenomenon. A survey of around 1100 employers discovered that 75 per cent of them planned to hire freshers for their companies between July and December 2026. This has increased from 73 per cent in the first half of this year. Freshers are in demand especially in retail, technology, e-commerce startups, and interestingly, manufacturing.
At the same time, however, according to the PLFS 2025, the unemployment rate among Indians aged 15–29 was 9.9 per cent. This is considerably higher than the rate for the working population as a whole.
So, what exactly is happening? Well, employers these days are expecting more from a fresher than just a degree. They are showing an increasing preference for internships and skills demonstrated on the field in real projects, over academic credentials alone. There is now a clear divide between freshers with demonstrable, real-world skills and those with just degrees.
Companies have not closed their doors for freshers. But increasingly, they are seeking freshers with experience. And this changes the definition of the term ‘entry-level’. A degree-holder who has worked as an intern or apprentice, or one with hands-on experience in a real project is undoubtedly better prepared for work. And in an aggressively competitive business world, it is not unreasonable for companies to lay greater emphasis on the practical ability of their employees.
Having said that, however, this disproportionate preference for candidates with prior experience raises another question. How much experience can a company expect from a fresher? Yes, candidates who have worked as interns or apprentices and have handled real projects may definitely be better prepared for the workplace. But if previous experience turns into a prerequisite rather than an advantage, who will give these freshers the experience they require in the first place?
Companies certainly need experienced professionals. But it is the very same organisations that also create experienced employees. After all, every experienced employee had a first job in which they learnt much of what they know today. Every CEO and manager was once a raw fresher who learnt on the job.
The first job teaches an employee how to interact with colleagues, handle difficult situations a textbook has not explained, deal with dissatisfied customers, learn, and recover from mistakes, meet deadlines and so on.
Therefore, India does not need just more vacancies. It needs companies that are ready to invest in freshers with potential, teaching them on the job and giving them enough time and space to bloom into experienced, efficient professionals.
Otherwise, India’s huge population of fresh graduates will continue to face the strange question: Do you have any experience for your first job?