Nasscom Forecasts 29% Digital Talent Gap by 2028, Calls for Urgent Action

New Delhi, Jul 11 (KNN) In a stark assessment of India's technology landscape, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has projected a significant widening of the digital talent gap over the next four years.

According to Nasscom's latest estimates, the disparity between demand and supply of digital skills is expected to increase from the current 25 per cent to approximately 29 per cent by 2028.

This forecast comes amid growing concerns about the readiness of India's workforce to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the tech industry.

Sangeeta Gupta, Nasscom's senior vice president and chief strategy officer, highlighted the urgent need for over 1 million engineers with advanced skills in artificial intelligence and related fields within the next 2-3 years.

The situation is further complicated by the necessity to reskill more than half of the existing tech workforce. This massive retraining effort is crucial for employees to transition into emerging roles in AI, big data analytics, and cybersecurity.

Alarmingly, Gupta noted that new college graduates are expected to fill only a quarter of these advanced tech positions.

India's USD 250 billion technology sector, which employs about 5.4 million people and contributes 7.5 per cent to the country's GDP, faces a critical juncture.

Major players like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) are already feeling the pinch, reporting difficulties in filling tens of thousands of positions due to the skills mismatch.

The root cause of this growing gap, according to Nasscom, lies in India's education system. From primary schools to universities, there's a notable lack of focus on practical, job-ready skills essential for the modern tech industry.

This systemic issue threatens to put Indian IT companies at a competitive disadvantage against global tech giants.

As the demand for digital talent continues to outpace supply, industry leaders and policymakers face mounting pressure to address this challenge.

Without significant improvements in education and training programs, India's tech sector risks losing its edge in the global market, potentially impacting its economic growth trajectory.

(KNN Bureau)

New Delhi, Jul 11 (KNN) In a stark assessment of India's technology landscape, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) has projected a significant widening of the digital talent gap over the next four years.

According to Nasscom's latest estimates, the disparity between demand and supply of digital skills is expected to increase from the current 25 per cent to approximately 29 per cent by 2028.

This forecast comes amid growing concerns about the readiness of India's workforce to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the tech industry.

Sangeeta Gupta, Nasscom's senior vice president and chief strategy officer, highlighted the urgent need for over 1 million engineers with advanced skills in artificial intelligence and related fields within the next 2-3 years.

The situation is further complicated by the necessity to reskill more than half of the existing tech workforce. This massive retraining effort is crucial for employees to transition into emerging roles in AI, big data analytics, and cybersecurity.

Alarmingly, Gupta noted that new college graduates are expected to fill only a quarter of these advanced tech positions.

India's USD 250 billion technology sector, which employs about 5.4 million people and contributes 7.5 per cent to the country's GDP, faces a critical juncture.

Major players like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) are already feeling the pinch, reporting difficulties in filling tens of thousands of positions due to the skills mismatch.

The root cause of this growing gap, according to Nasscom, lies in India's education system. From primary schools to universities, there's a notable lack of focus on practical, job-ready skills essential for the modern tech industry.

This systemic issue threatens to put Indian IT companies at a competitive disadvantage against global tech giants.

As the demand for digital talent continues to outpace supply, industry leaders and policymakers face mounting pressure to address this challenge.

Without significant improvements in education and training programs, India's tech sector risks losing its edge in the global market, potentially impacting its economic growth trajectory.

(KNN Bureau)