Reverse flow of manpower in IT, retail, says top IBM official

MUMBAI: Rising opportunities in the Indian job market following the impressive growth in its economy, has triggered in a 'reverse flow' of manpower into certain sectors like IT and retail, a senior IBM official said.
    
"Unlike in the early 90s, a huge chunk of qualified manpower is now returning to India on account of the tremendous growth opportunities here. This is obviously a good sign for the talent-starved country," IBM Executive Director, Human Resources, Aquil Busrai, said.
    
The trend is more palpable in certain pockets like IT and retail sectors, while the same is expected in other sectors as well in the years ahead, he said on the sidelines of a CII-organised seminar here on Monday.
    
IBM has nearly 50,000 employees in India, as on March, 2007. The US-based IT major has almost doubled its headcount in the country in the last two years.
    
Even as the demand for quality manpower has well exceeded supply in the past decade, the country has hardly succeeded in creating enough opportunities for its talent-pool, Busrai said.
    
"If we need to put a cap on manpower outflows, more opportunities must be created at all levels of operations," said Busrai.