HCLTech hires 6,136 freshers in Q2, biggest headcount jump in 16 quarters

HCLTech added 6,450 employees in the July-September quarter of 2026, its biggest quarterly increase in 16 quarters, and most of them were freshers, according to figures the company released with its results on Monday, 12 October 2026. The IT services company hired 6,136 freshers in the quarter, up from 1,056 in the April-June quarter, taking its total headcount to 230,339 from 223,889. Its attrition rate over the last 12 months edged up to 12.8 per cent from 12.7 per cent. Women made up 30 per cent of the workforce.

For engineering graduates and job seekers, the most important number is the fresher count. A jump from about 1,000 to more than 6,000 freshers in one quarter is a clear sign that at least one of India's largest IT employers has opened its campus pipeline again after a cautious period. Hiring decisions at large IT companies shape how many graduates find work each year.

HCLTech's numbers suggest that some companies are now willing to hire larger batches of new graduates and train them, rather than relying mostly on experienced staff. The company's rising AI revenue points to the kinds of skills that are likely to be in demand: data, cloud, AI engineering and the ability to work with automation tools.

The small rise in attrition, to 12.8 per cent, shows that experienced professionals are still moving between jobs. For workers, that means there is still a market for mid-level skills; for employers, it means hiring freshers is partly a way to build a pipeline they can train and retain.

For students in their final year, the practical takeaway is to prepare for campus drives with skills that match where companies are growing. Basic programming remains essential, but familiarity with cloud platforms, data handling and AI tools is increasingly what sets candidates apart.

Short-term: More engineering graduates are likely to receive offers and joining dates from HCLTech, and the hiring jump may encourage rival IT firms to step up campus recruitment.

Long-term: If AI-led demand continues, IT companies may keep hiring freshers in larger numbers, but with greater emphasis on AI, cloud and data skills in training.

Who is affected: Engineering and computer science graduates, final-year students preparing for placements, colleges' placement cells, IT professionals considering job moves, and rival IT services companies.

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