TCS Vs Infosys Vs HCL Tech Vs Wipro: Comparing Employee Metrics—Q2 Attrition Rate To Headcount Ratio

TCS Vs Infosys Vs HCL Tech Vs Wipro: India's top four biggest information technology (IT) services companies have announced their July-Sept. quarter results for fiscal 2025-26 (Q2FY26) reporting their latest attrition rates and current total employee headcount ratios. The employee metrics of the big four IT firms also include management's commentary on wage hikes and hiring plans by the IT majors in the coming quarters of FY26.

Amid the current global headwinds arising from US tariffs and the H1-B visa fee hike, the revenues of Indian IT companies have taken a hit due to the medium-term uncertainties. Outlook on profit has been subdued in the last one year due to softer client demand and slim supply volumes. However, most D-Street analysts expect a recovery from the end of the Sept. quarter or towards the beginning of the third quarter onwards.

In terms of the 12-month voluntary attrition rate reported by the big four IT giants, Tata Consultancy Services is the only firm which reported a rise in attrition rate in the Sept. quarter of FY26, compared to the preceding June quarter.

The other three IT companies have reported a drop in their attrition rates. The attrition rate measures the rate at which employees leave a company over a period of time. A lower rate is generally considered healthy for a company.

In terms of total headcount, again TCS is the only company which reported a sharp drop in the workforce when compared to the quarter ended June 30. The other three IT services firms reported a rise in the total headcount.

India's largest software services major reported a voluntary attrition rate of 13.3% for the July–Sept. quarter, up from 12.3% in the previous quarter. The total headcount dropped to 593,314 from 613,069 in the first quarter of FY26, a historic reduction of nearly 20,000 employees.

TCS roughly 1% of its workforce, about 6,000 employees, left as part of a restructuring initiative. Chief Human Resources Officer Sudeep Kunnumal confirmed that 1% of the workforce effectively translated into nearly 6,000 employees, at the mid and senior level segment.

Last month, news agency PTI reported that TCS had rolled out salary hikes in the range of 4.5–7% for a majority of its employees. Top performers have been given pay hikes of over 10% as well. This came after TCS had disclosed its plans to slash its workforce by 2% in FY26 in July. It added that around 12,200 roles were said to be removed as part of the transition.

Infosys reported a marginal drop in attrition rate to 14.3%, compared to 14.4% in the preceding June quarter. India's second-largest information technology (IT) services giant's total headcount rose by 8,203 employees to 3.31 lakh, compared to 3.23 lakh employees in the preceding first quarter.

Infosys chief financial officer Jayesh Sanghrajka said in the post-earning press conference that the company has hired more than 12,000 freshers in the first half of the year. It remains confident of meeting is annual hiring guidance. No major update was given on salary hikes for employees.

HCL Technologies Ltd. reported an attrition rate of 12.6% in the Sept. quarter compared to 12.8% in the preceding June quarter of FY26. The IT major's net addition of employees stood at 3,489 during the quarter. HCL Tech added 5,196 freshers during the second quarter, bringing the total headcount to 2.26 lakh.

India's fourth-largest IT major reported a marginal drop in attrition rate to 14.9% in the Sept. quarter, compared to 15.1% in the preceding June quarter of FY26. The total headcount rose by 2,260 to 2,35,492 employees in Q2FY26 compared 2.33 lakh reported in the preceding quarter.

Wipro chief human resources officer Saurabh Govli said in the post-earnings press conference that the IT services giant hired 2,900 freshers during the quarter. No wage hikes for employees were announced on the back of macro uncertainties plaguing the business operations.