IT major Wipro’s headcount declined by 114 employees sequentially in the April–June quarter (Q1FY26) to 233,232, even as utilisation inched up to 85% (Q4FY25: 84.6%) amid a subdued demand environment and persistent macroeconomic headwinds.
Managing Talent in a Shifting Landscape
Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil said that the company will approach hiring based on demand, while continuing its campus recruitment efforts. However, Wipro did not provide any guidance on the number of campus hires it plans for this year.
Voluntary attrition rose marginally to 15.1% (Q4:15%). Govil said that the firm sees attrition on a downward trend moving forward, though he admitted that there are pockets, depending on the skills and the demand for those skills, where Wipro is seeing higher attrition.
“From our standpoint, we are very comfortable with this range of attrition because we have a good bench and there are no challenges in meeting demand,” Govil added.
The firm also saw a significant increase in attrition in its DOP workforce at 8.2% compared to 7.7% in the quarter preceding the one under consideration.
Balancing Attrition and AI Skill Development
“It is more seasonal and account movement (based), and nothing too specific to call out,” Govil said.
On scaling up AI talent, and the premium on acquisition of such talent, he said that the company is comfortable paying a premium because there is an evident scarcity of trained professionals in AI skills, though it is also building a skilled AI workforce from within Wipro.
“It will be a combination (of upskilling and acquiring new talent), and we have gone through this cycle earlier as well, whenever new technologies have come about,” Govil said.
On the impact of hiring at a time when AI use is scaling across enterprises and IT companies, Wipro’s managing director and chief executive, Srini Pallia, said that so far, there is no correlation between the two being observed.
The management also reiterated its stance on the policy of moving employees with high potential to critical roles. Pallia added that it is important for the firm’s leaders to rotate laterally to ensure they get a better view of the clients, Wipro and its partnerships, citing himself as a “prime example”.
The IT services major also said it has yet to decide on wage hikes. Wipro usually announces its wage hikes in October.
“On the hikes, we have not decided. It is too early. The macroenvironment, the demand etc, will be deciding factors. Closer to the date, we’ll take a call and communicate,” Govil said.