Question : EMPLOYMENT IN IT SECTOR

(a) whether the National Association of Software and Services Company (NASSCOM) has conducted any study on job opportunities in IT sector;

(b) if so, the findings thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether there is a marked decline in job opportunities in IT sector both within and outside the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the number of qualified IT professionals including SCs/STs in the country who are unemployed; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to create more job opportunities in the sector?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)

(a) and (b): National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has not conducted any study specifically focused on job opportunities in the IT/ITES sector.However, NASSCOM brought out a study titled “Perspective 2020: Transform Business, Transform India” which interalia states that Indian IT / ITES industry can grow to a size of USD 225 Billion by the year 2020.

(c) and (d): No decline has been reported in job opportunities in the IT/ITES sector in the country. The job opportunities in IT/ITES sector outside the country are not tracked. The direct employment in the IT/ITES sector in the country have grown from 1.62 million in 2006-07 to 2.30 million in 2009-10 and is estimated to reach 2.54 million in the year 2010-11. Thus the industry has been a net hirer. The IT/ITES industry in India is expected to continue to demonstrate a growth trajectory in the near future in both the exports and in the domestic markets.

(e): No such data is maintained.

(f): A number of IT/ITES SEZs are coming up in the country, which would further generate employment in the sector. The Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has also amended and liberalized its guidelines for setting up SEZs in Tier II and Tier III cities.