Amidst Global Meltdown, Freshers Intake Going Down?

It is already known that the tech industry is witnessing a substantial decline in the talented workforce. On one hand companies have been firing their workforce staggeringly. And on the other hand, even a significant section of the employees are looking for other opportunities, including private businesses and entrepreneurship.

Amen global meltdown that is happening in the tech industry, something interesting is being observed in terms of patterning of freshers.

The tech industry is seeing a sharp decline in entry-level hiring, with fresher intake dropping by over 50% recently. This is mainly due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) automating tasks traditionally done by junior employees, such as coding and data analysis.

Companies like Microsoft report that AI handles 20–30% of their coding tasks, and Meta expects AI to manage most coding within 12–18 months.

As a result, employers now seek freshers with AI skills, with 87% of recruiters prioritizing AI proficiency. However, this creates a challenge for new graduates who often lack experience, making it harder to get hired.

In India, major IT firms like Infosys, Wipro, and TCS have cut campus hiring significantly — Infosys hired 11,900 freshers in FY24, down from 50,000 in FY23, and Wipro’s intake fell by 50%. Globally, economic uncertainty and automation continue to slow fresher hiring, pushing candidates to focus on AI skills and internships to stay competitive.