One of the top providers of IT services in India, Infosys, stood out in the December quarter  with robust net hiring during a period when the majority of its big IT competitors were still  cutting staff. Despite a slowdown in quarterly profitability, the Bengaluru-based company  hired more than 5,000 new workers in Q3 FY26, indicating a resurgence of business demand. 

Infosys added 5,043 workers during the December quarter, bringing its total workforce to  337,034. In a usually conservative IT business, this recruiting surge stood out dramatically.  The firm reported a consistent improvement in staff retention in addition to the growth in  personnel; last-twelve-month attrition dropped to 12.3% from 14.3% in the prior quarter. 

With these figures, Infosys surpassed its nearest rivals in terms of attrition, with Tata  Consultancy Services (TCS) reporting 13.5% and HCL Technologies recording 12.4% within  the same time frame. 

Pay Attention to Talent Pipeline and Campus Hiring 

Infosys’ aggressive campus hiring campaign was a major factor in the company’s personnel  growth. Between October and December, the corporation strengthened its long-term talent  pipeline by hiring close to 18,000 recent graduates. Additionally, Infosys reaffirmed its goal  to hiring about 20,000 entry-level workers during FY26, demonstrating its trust in a  prolonged rebound in demand. 

According to Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh, the rise in personnel is a reflection of  increased customer demand and deal flow confidence. He went on to point out that Infosys  authorized a larger variable payout in Q3 than in Q2, indicating cautious confidence over  near-term business prospects.

Mixed Financial Performance 

There were conflicting financial circumstances around the hiring growth. For Q3, Infosys  reported revenue of ₹45,479 crore, representing a 2.2% sequential gain. At ₹9,479 crore,  earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) increased slightly by 1.3%. However, as a result of  increased expenses and pressure on margins, net profit fell by 9.6% quarter over quarter to  ₹6,654 crore. 

As of December 31, 2025, employee benefit liabilities were ₹3,455 crore, demonstrating the  financial effect of significant recruiting and salary commitments. 

Differing Patterns in the IT Industry 

The Indian IT industry as a whole continued to take a more conservative stance even as  Infosys grew its personnel. With 226,379 workers at the end of Q3, HCL Technologies  reported a second consecutive quarter workforce reduction, down 261 from the prior quarter.  Despite the inclusion of 2,852 recent grads, this decrease occurred. 

As part of a larger workforce transformation plan, HCLTech has been gradually reducing  traditional occupations while expanding cutting-edge fields like AI engineering, automation, and digital delivery. 

The number of employees at TCS decreased even more sharply. The largest IT services  company in the nation had 582,163 workers at the end of the December quarter, a sequential  decrease of 11,151. Even though the corporation has strengthened its advanced AI talent  base—more than 2,17,000 employees now possess advanced AI skills—this drop  nevertheless happened. 

Conclusion 

In an otherwise conservative IT services industry, Infosys stands out for its choice to hire a  sizable personnel in Q3. Infosys seems to be preparing for future expansion by bolstering its  talent base, especially at the entry level, while competitors like TCS and HCLTech continue  to rebalance their personnel in response to structural changes and automation. As Indian IT  companies negotiate a slowly changing market environment and swift technology  advancements, this disparity reflects divergent strategic agendas.