India’s five largest IT services companies—Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro and Tech Mahindra—recorded a combined net addition of 13,918 employees in the July–September quarter of FY27. The increase more than doubled the 5,480 net additions reported in the June quarter, signalling a recovery in workforce expansion across much of India’s technology services industry. However, Wipro continued to reduce its headcount, highlighting differences in hiring strategies among the companies.
According to Moneycontrol’s October 26 report, the first-half hiring total is 24,398, but this conflicts with the report’s quarterly figures and remains unreconciled. HCLTech led quarterly net additions, followed by Tech Mahindra, Infosys and TCS, while Wipro reported a decline. Fresh-graduate recruitment and demand for specialised AI-related skills are supporting hiring, even as companies remain cautious about costs and client spending.
Key Takeaways
- 13,918 net employees added: The five IT majors more than doubled their combined Q1 net additions.
- HCLTech led hiring: The company added 6,450 employees during Q2 FY27.
- Tech Mahindra expanded its workforce: It reported 5,446 additional employees.
- Infosys and TCS also added staff: Infosys added 4,480 employees, while TCS added 4,258.
- Wipro reduced headcount: Its workforce declined by 6,716 employees during the quarter.
- H1 comparison unresolved: The source’s first-half total does not reconcile with its quarterly net additions; the growth comparison is not verified.
- Fresher recruitment remains important: TCS, Infosys and HCLTech continued onboarding graduates, with an increasing emphasis on AI and specialised engineering skills.
Q2 FY27 Hiring: Company-by-Company Comparison
The September quarter produced contrasting workforce trends among India’s five major IT services companies.
| Company | Net employee additions in Q2 FY27 | Hiring trend |
|---|---|---|
| HCLTech | +6,450 | Highest net addition |
| Tech Mahindra | +5,446 | Strong workforce expansion |
| Infosys | +4,480 | Continued hiring |
| TCS | +4,258 | Third consecutive quarter of additions |
| Wipro | -6,716 | Workforce reduction |
| Combined net addition | +13,918 | More than doubled from Q1 |
Source: Moneycontrol and company disclosures. Net additions reflect the change in reported workforce, not necessarily the number of new employees recruited during the quarter.
The figures show that four companies expanded their reported workforces, offsetting Wipro’s reduction. HCLTech recorded the largest increase, while Tech Mahindra also added more than 5,000 employees.
The combined figure is a net number. It accounts for increases and decreases across the five companies and should not be confused with gross recruitment, which can be higher because companies also experience employee departures.
HCLTech Leads With 6,450 Net Additions
HCLTech recorded the largest workforce increase among the five companies, adding 6,450 employees in Q2 FY27. Its total headcount reached 230,339 at the end of September.
The company also increased its intake of fresh graduates. HCLTech onboarded 6,136 freshers during the quarter, compared with 1,056 in the preceding quarter. It expects to recruit approximately 10,000–11,000 freshers during FY27.
The recruitment strategy reflects demand for specialised engineering capabilities, including AI engineering and customer-facing technical roles. These skills are increasingly relevant as clients seek to integrate AI into existing business systems.
HCLTech’s hiring figures indicate that workforce expansion is continuing, although the company’s future recruitment will depend on business demand, project requirements and its ability to deploy employees efficiently.
Tech Mahindra Adds 5,446 Employees
Tech Mahindra reported net additions of 5,446 employees during the September quarter, making it the second-largest contributor to the five-company total.
The expansion comes as the company works to strengthen its business performance and improve its ability to deliver technology services. Its management has emphasised productivity, specialised talent and the use of AI to support customer projects.
Tech Mahindra has also highlighted recruitment from leading engineering institutions in India, including the Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology. However, the company did not disclose a comparable quarterly fresher-hiring figure in the cited report.
Its workforce increase suggests a stronger demand for employees in selected business areas, but the number of net additions alone does not establish how much of the expansion came from freshers, experienced professionals or specific technology roles.
Infosys Adds 4,480 Employees and Continues Fresher Hiring
Infosys added 4,480 employees during Q2 FY27, taking its total headcount to 332,542 at the end of September, compared with 328,062 at the end of June.
The company onboarded 8,000 fresh graduates during the quarter and maintained its FY27 target of hiring 20,000 graduates. It had already completed more than half of that target during the first half of the financial year, according to its management.
Infosys’ hiring comes despite a cautious demand environment. The company lowered its FY27 revenue growth guidance to 1%–2% in constant-currency terms, reflecting pressure from discretionary technology spending, softer volumes and pricing conditions.
This contrast is important: an increase in headcount does not necessarily mean that revenue is accelerating at the same pace. IT services companies often recruit in anticipation of future projects, while revenue recognition and employee deployment can occur later.
TCS Adds 4,258 Employees as Workforce Recovery Continues
TCS added 4,258 employees on a net basis during Q2 FY27, taking its total workforce to 598,056 as of September 30, 2026. This marked the company’s third consecutive quarter of net headcount additions following its workforce restructuring in FY26.
TCS also continued its graduate recruitment programme. It onboarded around 10,000 freshers in Q2, taking first-half campus onboarding to approximately 24,000 when combined with the roughly 14,000 onboarded in Q1.
The company has said it will continue hiring according to demand, with particular attention to newer technologies and specialised skills. TCS reported annualised AI revenue of $3.1 billion in Q2 FY27, highlighting the growing role of AI-related services in its business.
The latest workforce figures suggest a continuing recovery in employee numbers, although hiring remains linked to client requirements, project pipelines and productivity expectations.
Wipro Cuts 6,716 Employees
Wipro was the exception among the five companies, reporting a net reduction of 6,716 employees during Q2 FY27. Its headcount fell to 236,328 at the end of September from 243,044 at the end of June.
The decline offset a significant portion of the additions recorded by its competitors. Wipro has followed a demand-led approach to recruitment, with management indicating that fresher hiring will depend on business requirements and the deployment of graduates already in its workforce pipeline.
The reduction should not automatically be interpreted as 6,716 layoffs. A change in net headcount reflects the combined effect of recruitment, resignations, retirements and other workforce movements. Without a detailed breakdown, the figure alone cannot establish how many employees were dismissed or left voluntarily.
Wipro’s position illustrates how major IT companies can pursue different workforce strategies even when operating in the same market. Some are expanding to meet anticipated demand, while others are adjusting staffing levels and prioritising utilisation and cost control.
First-Half Hiring Figures Need Reconciliation
Moneycontrol reports 24,398 net additions in H1 FY27 versus 2,689 a year earlier, but the current-year total does not reconcile with its quarterly numbers.
| Metric | H1 FY26 | H1 FY27 |
|---|---|---|
| Reported H1 net additions (unreconciled) | 2,689 | 24,398 |
| Year-on-year change | — | Not verified: current-year total unresolved |
| Q2 net additions in FY27 | — | 13,918 |
Clarification — October 26, 2026: Moneycontrol gives Q1 net additions of 5,480 and Q2 of 13,918. Their sum is 19,398, not the reported H1 total of 24,398. This arithmetic does not establish the correct H1 actual; the underlying discrepancy remains unresolved.
The unreconciled first-half figures cannot establish the size of the year-on-year increase. The separately reported Q2 net additions do not, by themselves, establish a return to earlier large-scale recruitment cycles.
Companies are increasingly tying recruitment to confirmed demand, project staffing and specialised capabilities. AI, cloud modernisation, data engineering and cybersecurity are among the areas shaping demand for technical talent.
The Bigger Picture
The latest hiring figures point to a selective recovery in India’s IT services industry rather than a uniform hiring boom. HCLTech, Tech Mahindra, Infosys and TCS expanded their workforces, while Wipro continued to reduce employee numbers. The aggregate increase is significant, but company-level differences show that recruitment decisions remain closely linked to individual business conditions.
AI is also changing the composition of hiring. Companies are investing in new technical capabilities while seeking productivity gains from automation. For job seekers, this means that hiring growth may create opportunities, but the strongest prospects could be concentrated in roles that combine software expertise, data skills, cloud knowledge and the ability to apply AI to business problems.
FAQs
1. How many employees did India’s top five IT companies add in Q2 FY27?
TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro and Tech Mahindra recorded a combined net addition of 13,918 employees during the July–September quarter of FY27.
2. Which IT company hired the most employees in Q2 FY27?
HCLTech led in net employee additions, adding 6,450 employees. Tech Mahindra followed with 5,446, Infosys added 4,480, and TCS added 4,258.
3. Why did Wipro’s headcount decline?
Wipro reported a net reduction of 6,716 employees, reflecting a different workforce trend from its peers. The net change alone does not establish how many employees were laid off, resigned or left for other reasons.
4. How many employees did the five companies add in H1 FY27?
The reported first-half total is unresolved: Moneycontrol’s quarterly net additions do not sum to its stated H1 figure. A reconciled company-level dataset is needed before certifying the total or its year-on-year growth.
5. Does rising IT hiring mean more jobs for freshers?
It suggests that opportunities are expanding at some companies, but hiring remains selective. TCS, Infosys and HCLTech have reported fresher recruitment, while employers are also prioritising specialised skills and demand-linked staffing. Applicants should check each company’s current recruitment announcements rather than assume that aggregate headcount growth guarantees more entry-level openings.
Looking Ahead
The next few quarters will show whether the increase in net additions translates into a sustained recovery in recruitment across India’s IT services industry. Key indicators will include fresh-graduate onboarding, attrition, revenue growth, deal conversion and management guidance on staffing. Companies are likely to continue balancing workforce expansion with cost control and productivity improvements.
For job seekers, the message is cautiously positive: four companies reported positive Q2 net additions, but opportunities will vary by company and skill set. Building practical expertise in software development, AI tools, cloud platforms, data engineering or cybersecurity may help candidates compete for roles aligned with changing client requirements.
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