For millions of young job seekers entering the workforce, landing jobs in India is becoming increasingly difficult, with employers raising experience expectations even for entry-level positions, according to a new survey released by recruitment platform Indeed. The Indeed Fresher Hiring Report 2026, based on a survey of 2,633 job seekers and employees across India, reveals growing frustration among fresh graduates as competition intensifies and responses from employers remain limited.
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According to the report, 70 percent of respondents believe securing a first job is harder today than it was three to five years ago, while 72 percent said entry-level positions frequently require prior work experience, creating a significant hurdle for candidates at the beginning of their careers. The survey highlights a widening gap between the expectations of employers and the realities faced by freshers. Only 14 percent of respondents said they expect their first job to match their preferred role, company and location, indicating that many young job seekers are prepared to compromise to secure employment.
The hiring process itself is emerging as a major challenge. Nearly half of the respondents (49 percent) identified getting shortlisted as the most difficult stage of recruitment, while 61 percent said they rarely or almost never receive a response after submitting job applications. The prolonged search process is also taking a toll on candidates’ confidence and motivation. The report found that 64 percent of respondents experienced a decline in confidence due to repeated applications and rejections, leading to failure to get jobs in India.
Access to practical work experience remains uneven across the country. Only 20 percent of respondents reported having access to paid internships during their studies, limiting opportunities for students to gain the experience that employers increasingly expect from entry-level candidates.
Commenting on the findings, Rohan Sylvester, Talent Strategy Advisor at Indeed, said the transition from education to employment has become significantly more challenging for young professionals. “For many young people, the first job is no longer a simple transition from college to career. It is becoming a long and uncertain phase filled with constant applications, delayed responses and growing pressure to compromise. The findings are a reminder that early-career hiring cannot be viewed only through the lens of experience. Employers who create clearer entry pathways, invest in potential and provide young candidates with opportunities to learn on the job will be better positioned to build stronger talent pipelines over the long term,” Sylvester said.
The survey was conducted by Valuvox on behalf of Indeed during April and May 2026. Respondents represented diverse educational backgrounds, including STEM, vocational and diploma programmes, postgraduate and professional qualifications, as well as non-STEM disciplines. The study also covered participants from Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, smaller towns and rural regions across India
