Reliance Narrows Hiring Gap with TCS as Workforce Tops 4 Lakh in FY25

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), the country’s largest company by market capitalisation and India’s second-largest employer, has significantly expanded its workforce in FY25. The company added an impressive 1.9 lakh new employees during the year, taking its total headcount to 4,03,303, as per company reports. This sharp increase narrows the gap with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which continues to lead as India’s largest private-sector employer with over 6 lakh employees.

Strong Rebound in Hiring Momentum

The hiring surge marks a strong turnaround from FY24, when Reliance saw an 11% reduction in staff numbers due to subdued retail activity. In FY25, the rebound was led by its retail division, which accounted for 61% of the company’s total workforce, followed by digital services at 23%. This growth has cemented Reliance’s second-place position in India’s corporate employment rankings, ahead of state-owned giants like Coal India and State Bank of India, as well as Infosys, which it overtook nearly three years ago.

Industry Position and Competitive Landscape

As per news reports, across the Nifty50 index, only 12 companies have workforces exceeding 1 lakh employees, with IT and financial services firms dominating the list. TCS leads with over 6 lakh employees, while Infosys ranks 3rd with 3.24 lakh. Others with between 2.1 lakh and 2.4 lakh employees include State Bank of India, Wipro, Coal India, HCL Technologies, Bajaj Finserv, and HDFC Bank. What makes Reliance’s rise noteworthy is that it comes at a time when IT sector hiring has slowed due to automation, artificial intelligence adoption, and broader industry headwinds.

Outpacing Peers in Workforce Growth

Between FY21 and FY25, Reliance’s workforce grew at a compound annual growth rate of 14.3%, far ahead of TCS and Infosys, both at 5.6%. In contrast, the State Bank of India recorded a nearly 1% decline in staff strength over the same period. This hiring strategy underscores Reliance’s expansion in high-growth areas, including retail, telecom, media, green technologies, and energy.

Reliance Industries Financial Performance Supports Expansion 

Reliance’s strong hiring in FY25 was underpinned by robust financial results. Revenue rose 7.1% year-on-year to ₹10.7 lakh crore, while net profit increased 3% to ₹81,309 crore. The retail division delivered standout performance, surpassing ₹3.3 lakh crore in turnover, aided by an expanded network of 19,340 outlets nationwide.

Also Read: Reliance Aims for Long-Term Value with 4 Strategic Growth Engines: Mukesh Ambani!

Reliance Industries Share Price Performance 

As of August 8, 2025, at 9:43 AM, Reliance Industries share price is trading at ₹1,388.30 per share, reflecting a decline of 0.079%. Over the past month, the stock has declined by 9.71%.

Conclusion

With sustained growth across its business segments and a sharply expanding workforce, Reliance Industries is steadily closing the hiring gap with TCS. Its aggressive talent acquisition, supported by strong financials and sectoral diversification, positions the company to remain a dominant force in India’s corporate employment landscape.

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