Wipro hits pause on campus hiring as AI shift forces

Wipro, one of India's leading IT firms, has decided to halt campus recruitment for the fiscal year 2027, citing a "very volatile environment," according to Chief Human Resource Officer Saurabh Govil. This marks a significant change from the previous fiscal year, during which the company brought on board 7,500 fresh graduates. Govil explained in a recent press briefing that there are currently no set targets for hiring freshers, emphasizing that future recruitment will be entirely demand-driven. As the company adapts to the evolving landscape influenced by AI advancements and market fluctuations, hiring decisions will be made based on emerging trends. Despite pausing fresh graduate recruitment, Wipro reported a slight increase in its overall workforce, with 135 new employees joining, bringing the total headcount to 242,156. The company has also noted a decrease in employee attrition rates, which fell from 15.1% in June to 13.8% in March, indicating improved employee retention. However, the overall workforce utilization has decreased from 86.4% in Q2 to 83.5% in Q4, suggesting challenges in maximizing workforce efficiency. Wipro's Q4 results indicate a net profit margin of 12.3% and total revenue of Rs 3,501.8 crore, although this reflects a 1.9% decline in net profit compared to Rs 3,569.6 crore from the previous year. In contrast, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has expanded its workforce significantly, hiring over 25,000 employees in FY25 and indicating plans for additional hiring based on industry demands. This disparity in recruitment strategies highlights the different paths taken by IT companies as they adapt to the uncertainties of the market while increasingly relying on AI technologies.