Beyond Layoff

Answer to a recent question from an online forum Here is an image that perhaps summarizes the Indian IT Industry All of us have a viewpoint on what’s ailing the IT industry ( link ) Large software service companies employ nearly 200,000 people each. The rate of voluntary attrition is at historically low percentages. Assuming some sort of a bell-curve grading continues, and companies expect 5-10% of the bottom-rung people to ‘voluntarily’ leave, we are still looking at 10-20,000 people (each) leaving. The global software services market has slowed down. Most of the large software-service firms are projecting slower yearly growth. Thanks to Trump’s Executive actions, Indian firms are promising to hire tens of thousands of American workers. One could include other factors like increased automation and productivity gains that are being touted by IT leaders. Factor in the slowdown in American work-visa (H1) issuance, protectionism in Australia, England and elsewhere that less

There is a is a recent article from NDTV   titled "Reskill Yourself, Hiring Specialist's Message To Mid-Level Indian Techies" The advice seems logical, and timely. As a matter of fact, most 'management gurus' and IT leaders are are parroting  the Reskill Reskill Reskill  mantra However, What to reskill on and How to go about it is unclear, perhaps even to the 'Gurus' Read rest of the article: Mid-level positions in India's IT sector are most at risk as the industry grapples with changes in the technological landscape and stringent visa regimes in many overseas markets, according to a top executive of staffing firm TeamLease. There have also been reports of layoffs by many IT companies, even though the industry has denied the allegations. "The nearly 1.4 million mid-rung employees, who typically have 8-12 years of experience, are now at the centre of reskill and restructuring conversations happening across the sector," says Alka Dh

Article from Deccan herald:  The job of a cook seems to be the new leveller. From mechanical engineers to PG degree holders, the list of applicants cuts across disciplines of study.  Monday saw the applicants demonstrating the dishes they can cook to bag the job of cooks in the hostels of the department of backward classes and minorities (BCM) in the district. A total of 3,000 candidates are vying for 72 posts of cooks and 92 posts of assistant cook for which SSLC is the prescribed qualification. A total of 178 candidates were shortlisted for the practical test. Applicants have degrees ranging from MA, MSc, BE, BSc (Agri), BA, diploma and BEd. Among those trying out their recipes was Shivanand Kalabanura of Raddera Thimmapur in Badami taluk of the district. Kalabanura did his BE at the government engineering college in Karwar in 2014. He works as the head of the department of mechanical engineering at the Sir M Visvesvaraya Diploma College. He said his salary was Rs 8,000 and t