Indian tech workforce is two million strong

By siliconindia   |   Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 23:29 IST
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Hyderabad: Reflecting the growth of Indian IT, technology workforce in the country is all set to cross the two million mark. The march from one million to two million has happened in just about three years, reported Business Line. This work force increase indicates the appetite for growth in the sector, which is fuelled by increasing interest in India as a preferred global outsourcing destination. Kiran Karnik, former president of Nasscom, says, "in a sector where the focus has traditionally been on financial performance of companies and the overall export numbers, it is heartening to note that the focus is now on headcount addition and job creation." Karnik said, "We are pleased about this achievement as a recent report from Crisil said that for every one employed in the technology sector, it creates four other jobs. That means that the sector provides employment to about 10 million people directly and indirectly." However, Nasscom is yet to announce this achievement formally. However, as the Government has always been very supportive of the technology sector, the issue of extension of deadline for Software Technology Parks India (STPI) units must be treated on priority to retain competitiveness, Karnik said. Lakshmi Narayanan, the Nasscom Chairman and Cognizant Vice-Chairman, said, "The IT and BPO sector employed 1.6 million professionals last year and we are expecting to touch a headcount of 2.5 million by 2010. The fact that the headcount has crossed the 2 million mark underscores the rapid pace of growth." "The IT and BPO segment has been the largest job creator in the country. If the Government continues to provide encouragement to this industry by way of benefits and incentives, I am confident that a lot more jobs will be added, especially in the small and medium scale segment, which will also auger well for Tier-II and Tier-III cities," Narayanan added.

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