Cognizant to Hire 25,000 Freshers in 2026 as AI Boosts Jobs

A Major Freshers Hiring Push in a Tight Tech Job Market

In a year when many technology firms are cautious about adding headcount, Cognizant’s freshers hiring plan stands out. The company said it will recruit between 24,000 and 25,000 entry-level employees in 2026, significantly expanding its campus hiring footprint.

Cognizant onboarded about 20,000 fresh graduates in 2025, meaning the new target reflects roughly 20 percent year-on-year growth in first-job opportunities for new graduates.

Company Strategy: Broader Pyramid, AI Support

During its fourth quarter 2025 earnings call, Cognizant’s leadership explained the hiring push as part of a “broader pyramid” workforce strategy. Instead of relying primarily on experienced lateral hires, the company plans to build a larger base of early-career talent and then leverage AI and automation to accelerate productivity.

According to CEO Ravi Kumar S, AI-powered delivery models are helping entry-level staff contribute to client projects sooner and at higher levels of productivity. This, in turn, supports the decision to expand early-career hiring.

An executive noted that in 2025, most of the freshers hired about 16,000 are already deployed on client projects, while the remainder continue training to meet business needs.

Context: Tech Hiring in the Era of AI

Cognizant’s aggressive freshers hiring strategy runs counter to fears in parts of the tech industry that AI might reduce entry-level jobs. Instead, the company argues that artificial intelligence tools are helping graduates ramp up faster and contribute meaningfully to projects.

Industry observers say this reflects a broader trend where AI is viewed as augmenting human capacity rather than replacing early-career talent entirely. With demand rising for digital transformation, cloud, automation and cybersecurity services, companies see value in blending junior talent with advanced tools.

Impact on Campus Hiring and Graduates

This hiring drive is expected to be one of the largest campus recruitment efforts in India’s IT sector in 2026, offering opportunities across software development, testing, analytics, cloud computing, and emerging tech roles. Reports indicate the campaign will span multiple recruitment cycles and campus placement events throughout the year.

For many students and fresh engineers, Cognizant’s plan provides a timely boost in opportunities, especially as other employers remain cautious. The company’s emphasis on learnability and foundational tech skills, rather than years of experience, also widens accessibility for recent graduates.

Recruitment Outlook and Timing

While official application timelines and selection processes have not yet been fully disclosed, industry reports suggest Cognizant’s campus recruitment efforts will begin in early 2026, with eligible graduates from engineering, IT and related streams encouraged to apply as opportunities open.

Expectations are that the firm will deploy a mix of on-campus drives, off-campus registration portals, and targeted outreach to talent pools across India and other markets.

What This Means for the Tech Job Market

Cognizant’s expanded recruiting plan offers a positive signal for entry-level job seekers amid broader concerns in the tech industry. It suggests that, for certain roles, companies are willing to invest in building talent pipelines rather than reducing headcount. The move also highlights how firms are leveraging AI not just to automate routine tasks but also to enhance the value of their human workforce. As a result, early-career professionals may find broader opportunities to begin their careers even as the industry evolves rapidly.