India’s top five IT services firms have added just 17 net employees in the first nine months of FY26, marking an almost absolute freeze in hiring, according to a report by The Times of India. The figure is a steep fall from the 17,764 net hires recorded in the same period last year.
The sharp slowdown reflects weak global demand, lower discretionary spending by clients, and the growing use of AI-driven delivery models that reduce the need for fresh hiring. Most limited headcount additions during the period reportedly came from acquisitions rather than direct recruitment.
TCS was the biggest drag on overall numbers after cutting 25,816 jobs following a workforce reduction plan focused largely on mid-level and senior roles. Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, and Tech Mahindra reported additions to their employee base. However, these gains were offset by TCS’s large cuts, leaving the combined total almost flat.
In the December quarter alone, the combined headcount of the five companies fell by 2,174 employees. The broader trend signals a shift by IT firms towards tighter cost control, higher productivity, and more selective hiring aimed at niche skills instead of mass recruitment.
TCS leadership also made it clear that its workforce trimming is not over yet. The company has now signalled that more exits are coming in the March quarter as it moves towards a planned 2% reduction in headcount.
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