India’s leading IT companies, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, and Tech Mahindra, have witnessed a significant decline in bench strength over the past two years.
As per news reports, the number of unassigned employees has dropped by nearly 75,000, from around 3 lakh to about 2.25 lakh. This is a contraction of roughly 25%. The proportion of bench employees has also reduced sharply to 8–15% of the workforce, compared to over 20% earlier.
The reduction in bench strength reflects a deeper structural shift in the IT services model. Earlier, firms hired in anticipation of future demand, maintaining a sizeable bench to deploy talent quickly.
Today, companies are targeting significantly leaner benches, often between 1% and 1.5%. In some cases, stricter policies have been introduced. For instance, bench duration at TCS is reportedly capped at around 35 days, after which performance evaluations are initiated.
This shift is driven by slower industry growth and the need for cost efficiency. Additionally, global hiring strategies have evolved, with companies increasingly relying on local hiring in overseas markets rather than maintaining an excess workforce in India.
Hiring trends across the IT sector have also changed significantly. Demand for traditional mid-level roles has declined by 20–30%, while roles in artificial intelligence (AI), generative AI, data analytics, and cloud technologies have grown by 30–40%.
Entry-level hiring has dropped by 30–35%, while leadership roles have increased in share, reflecting a shift toward specialised and high-value capabilities.
At the same time, deployment timelines have lengthened. The average time to assign experienced professionals (8–12 years) has increased to 60–90 days, compared to 30–45 days earlier.
The sharp reduction in bench strength across India’s IT sector signals a structural transformation rather than a temporary adjustment. Companies are moving toward leaner operations, prioritising skill-based hiring and higher utilisation.
As demand increasingly shifts toward emerging technologies, workforce strategies are evolving, making adaptability and specialised skills critical for professionals navigating the changing IT job landscape.
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Published on: Apr 1, 2026, 1:14 PM IST
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