According to research by Indeed, the world’s no. 1 job site, the most popular job searches among people with less than five years’ work experience for job openings (entry-level job seekers), are not for positions that offer the highest annual salary, but rather for positions in sectors that have traditionally been key drivers of economic growth and hold the potential for career advancement in the long run.

Architecture, Engineering and Tech Lead the Pack

When it comes to entry-level jobs, Indeed sees job seekers showing a marked interest in computer and engineering-related roles, with the top job titles all for technical roles, and around 4 times more popular on average among new entrants as compared to job seekers with over five years of experience.

According to Indeed’s Popularity Index, which is calculated to indicate how much more popular a given job role is among entry-level job seekers versus non entry-level job seekers, the position of Computer Aided Design (CAD) Technician is over 5 times more popular among new entrants into the architecture sector, than with experienced job seekers.

Similarly, roles for Java Developer, Mechanical Engineer and Junior Software Engineer are also significantly more popular among entry-level job seekers as compared to non entry-level job seekers.

It is interesting to note that these job titles are the most popular among job aspirants despite not being the most well paid for the given bracket. It appears that the potential workforce places a premium on the scope for career growth and the ability to sustain in the long run over remunerative benefits.

As most industries today are adopting a technology-integrated approach to doing business, it is perhaps advisable to acquire and apply technical proficiency to one’s field of work, as the sector promises to steadily generate employment opportunities in the future.

Commenting on the same, Mr. Sashi Kumar, Managing Director, Indeed India, said, “Jobs in the future will increasingly require specialized skill sets, not only in terms of the technical requirements of the given role, but also a requisite level of soft skills, which is essential to navigating the professional landscape of the future. Job seekers too are setting their sights on such jobs, which not only pay well, but also allow for career progression in the long run.”

Surprisingly, new job seekers do not seem to be as keen on jobs in the financial or the healthcare industry, given that they are two of the key sectors that are witnessing high growth rates, in addition to infrastructure, automobiles and technology. Jobs in these sectors also offer comparatively higher remuneration within the given bracket.

Highest Paid Entry-Level Jobs

The manufacturing, hospitality and insurance sectors also offer comparatively well-paying positions at the entry level. However, despite the remunerative advantage, these job titles are only slightly more popular among new entrants as compared to experienced job seekers. These positions have not quite captured the interest of the workforce of the future the way the technology sector has.

In the run-up to the 2019 general elections, which are now less than a year away, job creation and employment have been a key point of discussion. Despite there having been jobs created in key sectors, the rate at which employment opportunities are being generated seems to be lagging behind the rate at which job seekers are entering the Indian labour market.

 (Note: Indeed defines an entry-level job seeker as having one to five years of experience. Data presented reflect the February 2018 to July 2018 time period. Indeed Entry-Level Popularity Index is calculated by the ratio of entry-level job seeker clicks vs. Non entry-level job seeker clicks for each job title)