In high demand: Graduates trained in futuristic skills, says report

Mumbai: A recent report on skills and the youth has some interesting findings as far as the future of employment is concerned. 

While the World Youth Skills Day was recently celebrated, TeamLease EdTech’s Career Outlook Report HY1 has highlighted the top five most in-demand skills that freshers and young professionals need to acquire to thrive in today’s rapidly transforming job landscape. 

The report is rooted in a survey of 649 companies and an in-depth hiring trend analysis conducted across a wide spectrum of 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 such as Robotics System Engineer gaining prominence and RPA tools becoming mainstream in industrial and enterprise settings, this skill is no longer niche but foundational, the report claims. 

Similarly, Prompt Engineering is 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, it notes.

Network Security ranks high on the list due to the growing demand for cybersecurity resilience across industries. 

Roles such as Network Security Analyst and Information Security Analyst are seeing strong hiring intent in cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. As digital threats rise, so does the value of professionals capable of protecting 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 constant sectoral changes, where healthcare, e-commerce and renewable energy are expanding simultaneously, candidates who can navigate ambiguity and pivot quickly are in high demand, the report notes.

The report also maps the evolving geography of opportunity, wherein cities such as Bengaluru (78 percent), Mumbai (65 percent), and Chennai (57 percent) are leading in fresher hiring intent. 

Speaking of industries, E-commerce and Technology Startups (70 percent), Manufacturing (66 percent), and Engineering and Infrastructure (62 percent) are aggressively onboarding new talent. 

Shantanu Rooj, Founder-CEO of TeamLease EdTech, believes there is a clear highlight and shift towards hybrid skillsets — where technical expertise must be matched with adaptability and computational thinking. 

To stay relevant, freshers must not only upskill for today’s roles but also provision for agility to evolve with tomorrow’s demands. Employers are seeking job-ready talent, but increasingly prefer candidates that they view as future-proof, he adds.

In short, the report calls upon educational institutions, policymakers and industry leaders to double down on outcome-driven learning.