Indian IT services firms continue to show a cautious and uneven approach to hiring, with Q3 headcount trends underscoring a shift away from broad-based workforce expansion toward selective additions and skill-led hiring. While Infosys and reported net additions during the quarter, TCS and HCLTech continued to trim their overall employee base, reinforcing that a sector-wide hiring rebound remains elusive.
Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) workforce declined by more than 25,800 employees so far in FY26, taking its total headcount to 5,82,163 at the end of the December quarter. The reduction follows the company’s July 2025 announcement of cutting roughly 2 per cent of its global staff, over the year, largely affecting middle and senior management as part of its effort to transition into a “future-ready” organisation.
“We are focusing on future-ready hiring. Over the last year, we have doubled down on advisory and consulting talent across our big bets in areas such as cybersecurity, enterprise solutions, cloud, AI, and Data, and positioned them closer to customers. Over 50% of our experienced hires are coming with next-gen skill sets. We hired a significant number of AI-native fresh graduates. Our Initial Learning Program has been enhanced to include Gen AI as an integral part of the curriculum. All trainees now have access to a comprehensive AI ecosystem of learning, hands-on assessment platforms,” Sudeep Kunnumal, Chief Human Resources Officer, said during the company’s Q3 Earnings Conference Call.
The company also disclosed in Q3 that more than 2,17,000 of its employees now possess higher-order AI skills, representing a three-fold increase compared to last year.
Infosys added 5,043 employees during the quarter, lifting its total headcount to 3,37,034 from 3,31,991 in Q2. However, net additions were lower than the 8,200 reported in Q2.
At the same time, Infosys is set to offer fresher salaries of up to ₹21 lakh per annum for specialised technology roles under its campus hiring programme for the Class of 2026, as previously reported by businessline. The updated compensation structure introduces a tiered model based on skill intensity and role complexity, with Specialist Programmer trainees (L1 to L3) offered packages ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹21 lakh per annum, while Digital Specialist Engineer trainees will receive ₹6.25 lakh per annum along with a joining bonus.
“In 2026, IT hiring is expected to follow a pattern of selective growth, with a slight acceleration focused on niche skills such as AI, cloud, and cybersecurity. Fresher hiring is likely to stay flat and well below pre-pandemic levels, driven by automation and a shift toward skills-based workforce strategies. The industry is undergoing a structural shift away from large-scale campus recruitment toward targeted, high-impact roles supported by internal upskilling,” said Sanketh Chengappa, Director and Business Head, Professional Staffing, Adecco India.
Wipro reported a total headcount of 2,42,021 employees for the quarter, reflecting net additions of around 7,000, largely driven by the Harman DTS acquisition. The company has added roughly 5,000 freshers so far and now plans to onboard close to 8,000 freshers for the year, below the 10,000 it had initially guided.
HCLTech’s employee strength stood at 226,379 at the end of December, representing a marginal 0.1 per cent sequential decline. The company recorded a net reduction of 261 employees during the quarter, even as it brought in 2,852 freshers.
Published on January 18, 2026
