For the class of 2026, labour market finally turns a corner

Aon study finds 73% of recruiters anticipate moderate to high growth in campus hiring

- Pratishtha Bagai

India's campus job market is rebounding, with companies expecting to hire more students and offer slightly better compensation this year, according to a new report from professional services firm Aon.

Aon's annual Campus Study 2025 surveyed over 220 organizations and found a clear recovery in hiring sentiment after a difficult 2024 season. Last year, many firms reduced hiring, visited fewer campuses, and left nearly twice as many students unplaced compared to the previous year.

This year, the outlook is brighter. The study found that 73% of recruiters anticipate moderate to high growth in campus hiring, with 40% planning to expand their headcount by more than 10%. Information technology (IT), industrial and materials companies, and healthcare organizations are among the sectors driving this recovery, while financial services, life sciences and consumer goods continue to be strong performers.

According to analyst calls from their June quarter results, top Indian IT firms are making big campus hiring bets: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) aims to recruit 40,000 students, Infosys 20,000, Wipro 10,000, and HCL Tech over 7,000, Mint reported earlier.