Kraftshala’s Digital Marketing Hiring Trends Report 2025 analyses over 750 entry-level roles to map how hiring patterns are evolving across agencies and brands. Agencies accounted for nearly 70% of roles, reinforcing their position as the primary entry point for early-career talent.
Brand-side roles, while fewer, were 62% more likely to offer higher CTCs, reflecting expectations around analytical depth and ownership. Hiring remained concentrated in Delhi-NCR, Bangalore and Mumbai, though tier-two cities showed gradual growth.
The report notes that 91.5% of roles were in-office or hybrid, underscoring employer emphasis on collaboration and faster learning cycles. Growth marketing, programmatic and e-commerce roles emerged as high-demand entry points.
Industry leaders highlighted the growing importance of AI literacy. Assembly Global’s Shivaprasad Nair described AI as basic hygiene, while YOptima’s Satish Kadu pointed to programmatic talent as mission-critical.
Varun Satia, founder and CEO of Kraftshala, said entry-level hiring is maturing rather than slowing, with recruiters prioritising fundamentals and practical problem-solving. The findings reflect a shift towards capability-led hiring, where tools matter less than application.
