India’s IT sector is reportedly gearing up for a significant increase in campus hiring this fiscal year. According to a report in Economic Times, quoted industry experts, IT campus hiring is expected to surge 20-25% this fiscal, backed by growing demand for talent in AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data analytics.
After a slowdown in campus hiring last year due to global economic uncertainties, companies are now prioritizing the recruitment of fresh talent to drive digital transformation initiatives and fill skill gaps.Experts told ET that the hiring of fresh talent is a positive sign for the IT sector, which reduced or paused fresh intakes from campuses last year amid global economic uncertainties and to stabilise their workforces after aggressive hiring during the pandemic.
TCS, Infosys and these IT companies to lead
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, and Tech Mahindra are among the top software services firms leading the hiring charge. Wipro has already onboarded 3,000 Next Gen Associates (NGAs) in the first quarter of this fiscal and plans to hire an additional 10,000-12,000 NGAs throughout the year. The company is also exploring off-campus hiring strategies and partnerships with academic institutions.
Tech Mahindra is looking to hire around 5,000 people from engineering campuses this year and is also participating in the Prime Minister Internship scheme. TCS has announced plans to hire up to 40,000 freshers, while Infosys is targeting around 20,000 campus recruits.
Experts anticipate a 20-25% increase in fresher hiring compared to the previous fiscal year. Companies are placing greater emphasis on fresh talent to reduce their reliance on experienced lateral hires and stay ahead in the competitive market. “We’re expecting fresher hiring to grow by 20-25% this year compared to FY24. Last year, hiring slowed due to global economic uncertainties, but 2024-25 is showing signs of recovery,” said Krishna Vij, vice president at TeamLease Digital.
Campus hiring numbers rise 2024, but still lag
However, the overall hiring tally in 2024 is expected to be lower than the peak hirings during the pandemic years due to factors like automation and optimization of workforce. Despite the increase in campus hiring, experts caution that the IT services industry will continue to focus on recruiting individuals with new-age skills to meet the evolving demands of the market.