BENGALURU – Today marked a change in the usual anxiety around artificial intelligence and job security, with Infosys CEO Salil Parekh assuring that hiring would be in huge numbers. The company publicly stated on 30 April 2026 that it will not lay off any staff. Rather, it will hire approximately 20,000 new graduates this fiscal year. The move indicates that the tech world may be fretting over automation, but one of India’s largest employers is taking a bold step on growth.
The “Pyramid” is Changing Shape
For decades, the Indian IT machine has relied on a “pyramid” structure—thousands of junior engineers at the bottom doing basic coding, with a smaller group of experts at the top. AI is now doing a lot of that bottom-tier work. During recent press briefings, Parekh noted that this old model is evolving. The “base” of the pyramid is shrinking because machines handle the repetitive stuff, but the need for people who can actually manage these AI systems is spiking.
As reported by The Economic Times, this isn’t just about hiring more bodies. It’s about a different kind of worker. New hires are being trained to use generative AI tools from day one. They aren’t just writing code anymore; they’re auditing it. The goal is to turn these freshers into specialists who can handle complex “foundation models” that a simple chatbot can’t manage on its own.
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Revenue Boost and the “No Layoff” Guarantee
The numbers from 30 April 2026 show that AI isn’t just a buzzword for the firm—it’s a money-maker. AI services now account for about 5.5% of total revenue. That might seem small, but it’s the fastest-growing part of their business. This new revenue stream is likely what’s allowing them to avoid the pink slips seen at other global tech firms.
According to India Today, Parekh was quite blunt: there have been no layoffs in the past year, and there aren’t any on the horizon. The strategy is to reskill the existing workforce rather than showing them the exit. The company is using its internal platform, Topaz, to move employees from old-school maintenance roles into high-value AI consulting.
Higher Pay for AI Skills
To make sure they get the best talent, Infosys is also bumping up pay for specific roles. Some entry-level specialists are seeing offers as high as ₹21 lakh per annum. This creates a huge gap between “general” IT workers and those who understand AI architecture.
Moneycontrol analysts point out that this “growth-over-cuts” strategy is a major risk. It assumes that the global market for AI services will continue to explode. If the demand for AI stays hot, Infosys will have an army of trained pros ready to go. If it cools, they’ll have a very expensive payroll to manage.
For the 20,000 graduates hitting the job market this year, the message is clear: the jobs are there, but the skill set has shifted. The days of just knowing how to code are over. Now, you’ve got to know how to talk to the machine.
So, can a company really keep hiring while the rest of the world automates, or is this just a temporary stay of execution for the IT sector? The next few quarters will tell the real story.
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Sources and References
- The Economic Times. AI will bring changes to Indian IT’s pyramid talent model: Infosys CEO Salil Parekh (April 30, 2026).
- India Today. Infosys jobs: CEO Salil Parekh says no layoffs, plans to hire 20,000 freshers; here’s what he said on AI impact on business and revenue (April 30, 2026).
- Moneycontrol. MC Interview: AI to be a major growth driver; executing rapidly, says Infosys CEO Salil Parekh (April 30, 2026).
- Moneycontrol. Infosys CEO Salil Parekh rules out layoffs, bets on AI-driven growth (April 30, 2026).
- News18. No Layoffs At Infosys, AI To Drive Growth: CEO Salil Parekh (April 30, 2026).
