Bengaluru, Sept. 22 -- Wipro Ltd has delayed the permanent onboarding of at least 400 trainees who joined the company four years ago through one of India's oldest IT recruitment programmes, according to people familiar with the matter.

Wipro launched its Wipro Integrated Learning Program (WILP) in 1995, taking non-engineering graduates to work while pursuing an advanced engineering degree. It was the first of its kind, and the country's fourth-largest IT services company hired about 5,000 people annually through the flagship programme.

The delays highlight the challenges facing graduates recruited during a period of aggressive post-pandemic hiring, as slower growth and the rise of artificial intelligence reshape workforce requirements i...