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

• Cognizant Technology Solutions plans to recruit 24,000-25,000 fresh graduates in 2026, a 20% increase from 2025.
• The higher intake is attributed to AI-led delivery models improving productivity at the entry level, contrary to AI-led job loss concerns.
• CFO Jatin Dalal and CEO Ravi Kumar highlighted partnerships with AI platforms like Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI, and Microsoft to distribute value to the bottom of the pyramid.
• Revenue per employee rose 5% and margin per employee increased 8% over the trailing twelve months, indicating growing non-linearity between headcount and revenue.
• Cognizant expanded its workforce by 4% in 2025, adding 14,800 employees, while revenue grew 6.4% in constant currency, reflecting a shift towards a broader talent pyramid with AI-assisted delivery.