According to the annual Internship Trends Report 2024 released by career platform Intershala, India has recorded a 25 percent increase in internship opportunities compared to last year.
According to data compiled by the company, internship opportunities for Indian students have increased by 25 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. It also shows a growth rate of 135 percent in the last five years since 2020. Management (42 percent), engineering (20 percent), media (13 percent), education (4 percent), design (4 percent), and other (16 percent) were among the top fields for internship opportunities.
In 2024, the field of management dominated the internship space, accounting for 42 percent of all positions. These internships include roles in marketing, sales, finance, digital marketing, operations, and human resource management. Engineering followed with 20 percent of opportunities, offering roles in various engineering disciplines such as software development, web development, product management, and mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. Media-related internships, covering journalism, public relations, creative writing, videography, etc., represented 13 percent of the total. Education and design each held a 4 percent share, with roles in education, subject matter expertise, online tutoring, graphic design, UI/UX design, and animation.
Even in 2025, these sectors are likely to dominate, with potential growth in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, green technologies, and blockchain development.
Interestingly, this year, inclusivity emerged as a key theme in 2024, with 66 percent of employers open to hiring women returning to work. In addition, balancing the hybrid model favored by many students and employers alike, with 49 percent of internship opportunities offered as work-from-home roles, employers’ adaptability was evident.
Internships were geographically concentrated in urban hubs, with Delhi-NCR leading at 31 per cent, followed by Mumbai at 17 per cent and Bangalore at 11 per cent. However, the growing prevalence of remote internships has begun to decentralize opportunities, enabling students from tier-2 and tier-3 cities to access high-quality roles.
average allowance
The average allowance offered in 2024 was Rs 8,000 per month. Financial aspects of internships in 2024 saw significant scope. The highest stipend offered was an impressive Rs 1 lakh per month, while the average monthly allowance was Rs 8,000.
Furthermore, 22 percent of internships came with pre-placement offers (PPOs), which underscores the role of internships in leading to full-time employment.
Employers look for these skills when hiring interns
15% internships require English proficiency (spoken and written), 4% internships require MS-Excel, 4% internships require social media marketing, 4% internships require digital marketing, 3% internships require effective communication, 3% internships require creative writing, Adobe 2% Internship Required in Photoshop, 2% Internship in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Required, 2% Internship MS-Office required, 2 percent of internships mention email marketing among the top 10 skills required in Essential Skills of Internship Opportunities. 2024, from a pool of 500+ skills.
Sectorally, the top skills asked for internship opportunities in the field of management include MS-Excel, digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), MS-Office, email marketing, social media marketing, sales, search engine marketing, and content marketing. .
Top skills in demand in the engineering field include JavaScript, HTML, CSS, ReactJS, Node.js, REST API, MySQL, PHP, AutoCAD, Java, MongoDB, Machine Learning, Android, Flutter, and C++ programming. The top skills in demand in the field of media include creative writing, editing, blogging, copywriting, and animation.
Skills in demand in the field of design include Adobe Photoshop, Video Editing, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, Canva, Video Making, Adobe After Effects, UI and UX Design, CorelDRAW, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Adobe Indesign, Final Cut Pro. , and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC.
The duration of the internship varied widely from one to 6 months in 2024, with an average duration of 3.7 months. This flexibility allows students to align internships with academic schedules while gaining sufficient work experience. Some in-office opportunities also allow for hybrid models or part-time work based on student availability and college schedules.
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