Of late, though, there has been a dip in demand for engineering seats, even as competition has intensified and employability has been an issue for many engineering students. Meanwhile, emerging technologies are creating new opportunities in the broader science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers.
What does that mean for student choices in terms of courses and careers, and for immediate hiring opportunities?
Experts point out that a gap between what is taught in classes and what is required in a work environment needs to be addressed. Engineers Day, observed on September 15, provides an opportune time to discuss ways to bridge this gap, they say.
Skilling up should go beyond colleges. Mohan says engineering students and professionals must embrace upskilling to ensure they are well-prepared for the ever-changing demands of the modern world.
This issue is probably why there is a higher preference for STEM careers.
According to data tracked by TeamLease Edtech, about 34% of current graduating students continue to pick STEM as a preferred field, and organisations’ intent to hire freshers from the STEM field is as high as 50%. The demand is broader than IT and is from industries such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, pharma, biotechnology and medical research, among others.
Other key sectors where STEM hiring is expected to be in the range of 11-20% are agri, agritech; AI, ML, deeptech; edtech; automotive; and ecommerce, delivery services.
In terms of tech-fresher hiring just by the IT companies, the percentage share has dropped from the peak seen in 2022; it is expected to account for 10% of total engineering passouts in the current financial year, according to TeamLease Edtech.
Overall engineering freshers hiring by IT companies
Neeti Sharma, Co-Founder and President of TeamLease Edtech, says, “We are increasingly witnessing that engineering graduates are being coveted beyond the IT domain, with year-on-year hiring of engineering graduates reducing within the industry from 2,30,000 to 1,55,000 from FY 23 to FY 24. However, there will be an increased demand for STEM candidates with skills in data science, AI and ML, software engineering and cyber security. As technology continues to advance and become increasingly important in our daily lives, STEM careers will continue to be an attractive option for many.“
Half of the companies in the engineering and infrastructure industries intend to hire freshers (an increase of 6% from January-June), she says.
Some top roles that employers are looking for in freshers across industries are machine learning, DevOps, data analysis, cloud computing, blockchain and data encryption. Startups in the healthcare, aerospace & defence and energy sectors are expected to increase their workforce by 30%, according to its data. The ecommerce, automotive; AI,ML, deeptech, and agritech industries are also expected to hire freshers.
IT is becoming one of the most sought-after careers for women in India and this is likely to remain, she adds.