Job opportunities for freshers to remain muted in 2025-26

Fresher hiring stays muted in 2025‑26 as IT demand slumps; only 1.2L of 9L grads absorbed, automation & AI reshape entry‑level jobs

Fresher recruitment in India is expected to remain subdued in 2025‑26, largely due to reduced demand from the IT and technology sector. Factors such as automation, artificial intelligence adoption, and global market uncertainties have slowed intake volumes, leaving many graduates facing limited opportunities.

India produces nearly 9 lakh BE and B‑Tech graduates annually. Of these, only about 1.2 lakh are projected to be absorbed by the tech sector this year, the same as last year. Earlier projections had suggested 1.5 lakh fresher hires, but disruptions in the US market, a key driver for India’s IT industry, have altered hiring plans. In the first half of the current fiscal year, seven major IT services firms together recruited a net of just 23,000 freshers.

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Campus hiring, traditionally dominated by IT services companies, continues to face stress as firms attempt to balance costs and stabilize talent strategies. Against the backdrop of India’s large graduate pool, the limited intake remains a concern. Of the 9 lakh graduates, around 2.3 lakh are from computer science streams, while 13,000 come from top institutions such as IITs, NITs, and BITS. While top‑tier graduates are likely to secure jobs, many others are expected to move into non‑technical roles, including sales positions in other industries.

Infosys recently announced plans to recruit 20,000 freshers this fiscal, with 12,000 already hired in the first six months. However, overall demand for entry‑level talent across sectors is estimated at under 50,000, with only a third of this coming from technology.

Industry experts point to structural changes in hiring patterns. IT services companies are no longer recruiting freshers in large numbers for coding, testing, and support roles. Shifts toward AI, automation, cybersecurity, and data science, combined with fewer long‑term contracts, geopolitical challenges, and lower attrition rates, have all contributed to the decline.

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