Internshala, India’s leading career-tech platform, has released its Annual Internship Trends report for 2024, showcasing a remarkable 25% growth in internship opportunities compared to the previous year. With an astounding 135% growth in internships over the past five years, this report highlights the evolving culture of internships in India. The report reemphasizes the role of internships as a critical bridge between academia and industry, providing students with essential real-world experience and preparing them for professional success.
The report sheds light on the increasing focus on practical education and skill-based hiring, with companies leveraging internships to source and develop future talent. As organizations continue to value experiential learning, the trends observed in 2024 indicate a trajectory of further expansion in 2025, potentially exceeding this year’s growth.
Following are the key findings of the trends
135% Growth in Internships Over the Last Five Years Since 2020
Internship opportunities for Indian students saw a 25% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year. This additionally marks an impressive 135% growth in the past 5 years since 2020, bringing attention to the growing focus on practical education and experiential learning in both the industry and the internship-seeking youth of India. With organizations prioritizing skill-based hiring, internships have become a strategic tool to source and develop future talent. The consistent rise in internships highlights their increasing importance in bridging the gap between academia and industry. As companies recognize the value of internships in talent acquisition and skill development, 2025 is expected to witness further growth, potentially exceeding the 25% mark seen this year.
Management, Engineering, Education, Media, and Design Are Some of the Top Fields for Internship Opportunities
In 2024, the field of management dominated the internship space, accounting for 42% of all positions. These internships encompassed roles in marketing, sales, finance, digital marketing, operations, and human resource management. Engineering followed with 20% of opportunities, offering roles in software development, web development, product management, and various engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. Media-related internships represented 13% of the total, covering journalism, public relations, creative writing, videography, etc. Education and design each held a 4% share, with roles in teaching, subject matter expertise, online tutoring, graphic design, UI/UX design, and animation.
The broad spectrum of internship profiles underscores the complexities of today’s job market, catering to a wide range of student interests and career objectives. The demand for digital skills and tech-enabled positions is also influencing hiring practices. Moving forward to 2025, these industries are expected to dominate, with potential growth in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, green technology, and blockchain development.
Internship Stipends and Benefits Shows Considerable Range
The financial aspects of internships saw a notable range in 2024. The highest stipend offered was an impressive ₹1,00,000 per month, while the average monthly stipend stood at ₹8,000. This disparity highlights the varied nature of internships, influenced by the complexity of roles, company size, and industry sectors. Employers leverage such lucrative stipends to attract top talent, setting a precedent for competitive pay in 2025. Employers are increasingly using stipends to secure high-calibre interns in the competitive market.
Employers Seek These Skills While Hiring Interns
The skills most sought after by employers in 2024 reflected the shifting demands of the job market. Proficiency in English, MS Excel, social media marketing, and digital marketing was prominent. At the same time, fields like engineering and design saw a surge in demand for technical expertise in JavaScript, ReactJS, AutoCAD, and Adobe Photoshop.
Inclusivity Emerged as a Major Theme in 2024
An encouraging trend in 2024 was the significant focus on inclusivity, with 66% of employers opting to hire women looking to restart their careers for internship opportunities. This reflects a broader societal and corporate effort to enhance gender diversity and leverage untapped talent pools. Companies are increasingly investing in returnship programmes and offering tailored support such as flexible hours and mentorship for women. As this trend gains momentum, 2025 could see a rise in dedicated programmes and policies to support women professionals, including partnerships with women’s networks and communities.
Internships’ Role as a Pathway to Full-Time Employment
Internships are increasingly becoming a pathway to full-time employment. In 2024, 22% of internships included pre-placement offers (PPOs) contingent on intern performance. This highlights the dual benefit of internships – they provide students with hands-on experience while enabling employers to identify and nurture early talent for future full-time roles at their organization. The prevalence of PPOs is likely to increase in 2025 as organizations seek to optimize their talent pipelines and reduce onboarding time for new employees.
Work-from-home Opportunities
The distribution of in-office and remote internships was nearly balanced in 2024, with 51% being in-office and 49% work-from-home opportunities. This balance highlights employers’ adaptability in accommodating diverse preferences and circumstances. The continuation of hybrid work models in 2025 is expected to provide flexibility for employers and interns. This adaptability could also increase international remote internships, giving students access to global opportunities.
Top Cities Where Firms Hire Interns include Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Jaipur, and Kolkata
Internship opportunities 2024 were concentrated in major urban centres, with Delhi-NCR leading at 31%, followed by Mumbai at 17%, Bangalore at 11%, and Pune at 5%. Other notable cities included Hyderabad at 4%, Chennai at 3%, Jaipur, and Kolkata at 2%, with 24% of opportunities across different Indian cities. This data highlights the dominance of metro cities as hubs for internships, driven by their dense corporate presence. However, the growing digitization and adoption of remote work have started decentralizing opportunities, with 49% of virtual opportunities from across India and abroad. In 2025, tier-2 and tier-3 cities might witness growth in internship opportunities as companies expand their reach and tap into new talent pools.
The trends observed in 2024 paint a promising picture for the internship ecosystem in India. With consistent growth, increased inclusivity, and enhanced opportunities across diverse fields, internships are solidifying their role as a crucial bridge to professional success. As we look to 2025, we anticipate further innovation in internship structures, greater emphasis on inclusivity, and expansion into emerging industries. The focus on holistic intern experiences, including competitive stipends, comprehensive perks, and structured learning paths, will likely define the next growth phase in this dynamic space.
Sarvesh Agrawal, the Founder and CEO of Internshala, commented on the findings:
Internships are no longer a stepping stone but a foundational pillar in shaping the career trajectory of Indian students. The trends observed in 2024 reveal how organizations and students alike are embracing this evolution. As we move into 2025, we foresee internships becoming even more inclusive, skill-focused, and aligned with the aspirations of the Indian youth, ensuring every student has the opportunity to build a successful future.
About Internshala
Founded in 2010, Internshala is the largest career-tech platform helping college students and freshers get the best start on their careers. The platform provides students with their first real-world experience through internships and fresher jobs, as well as skilling in on-demand areas through online training and placement guarantee courses, which aligns with its vision of becoming a career super app for college students.
