Infosys to Hire 20,000 Freshers in FY27, But Skill Expectations Are Changing

Infosys will continue to hire around 20,000 college graduates in FY27, showing that freshers remain an important part of its workforce plans. However, the company is changing the way it selects and develops this talent, with greater focus on specialist skills and deeper technical knowledge.

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The hiring plan comes even as Infosys reduced its employee strength by 8,440 in Q4 FY26 to 3,28,594. CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka said the company had hired more than 20,000 freshers in FY26 and expects to hire at least another 20,000 in FY27.

In Q1 FY27, Infosys had already hired more than 4,000 freshers. The company said its total employee count stood at 3,28,062 at the end of June, down 532 from the previous quarter.

Fresher Hiring Is Not Going Away

The latest comments from Shaji Mathew, Chief Human Resources Officer, Infosys, said to BussinessLine that the company continues to see a clear role for fresh graduates. But the expectations from these candidates are different from what they were earlier.

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Infosys has been recruiting fresh engineering and technology graduates for specialist roles with packages of up to ₹21 lakh per annum. These candidates are put through a higher level of assessment, particularly for specialist engineering and programming roles.

This means that the company is not simply increasing or reducing the number of freshers it hires. It is changing the mix of skills it expects at the entry level.

AI Is Changing the Fresher Profile

Artificial intelligence is one of the reasons behind this change. As AI tools take over or assist with some routine technology work, companies are looking for graduates who can handle more complex programming, engineering and technology problems.

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Infosys has said that its AI-first approach requires both the upskilling of existing employees and the hiring of people with deeper digital and engineering expertise. The company is also increasing its focus on specialist programmers and full-stack engineers.

For students, this could mean that a degree and basic programming knowledge may not be enough for some of the better-paying technology jobs. Stronger skills in programming, AI, data, cloud and other specialised areas can increasingly make a difference during campus and off-campus hiring.

From Training Freshers to Hiring for Skills

Traditionally, large IT companies have hired fresh graduates in large numbers and trained them after joining. That model is still relevant, but Infosys is adding another layer to it.

The company is now looking for a larger pool of graduates who already have deeper technical knowledge. Its specialist programmer hiring, including roles offering up to ₹21 lakh, is an example of this approach.

At the same time, Infosys continues to invest in training. Shaji Mathew has said that the company recruits people with deep expertise while also developing such expertise internally, as the technology market is changing faster than the availability of experienced AI talent.

What It Means for Campus Hiring

Infosys’ hiring plan suggests that AI is not simply reducing opportunities for freshers. Instead, it is changing the type of fresher companies want to bring in.

The number may remain around 20,000, but the hiring mix is likely to include more candidates with specialist capabilities alongside the larger pool of graduates who will be trained for broader technology roles.

For colleges and students, the message is clear: fresher hiring is continuing, but the entry-level skill bar is moving higher. The advantage will increasingly go to graduates who can demonstrate practical technical knowledge, rather than relying only on their degree or basic coding skills.