IT sector to employ 50,000 people less this year

IT sector to employ 50,000 people less this year India's information technology (IT) sector will employ 50,000 people less this year, according to industry body NASSCOM's projection.

NASSCOM said the IT sector of the country would provide 1.30 lakh to 1.50 lakh jobs this year, as compared with 1.80 lakh jobs it provided in the previous year.

However, the industry body didn't link the decline in the jobs generation to slowdown, though it acknowledged persistent economic uncertainties.

NASSCOM President Som Mittal explained, "Last year, the number was more because we were filling up the backlog. Jobs will come this year but the numbers will come down."

Mr. Mittal was at event to promote the industry body's `10,000 Start-ups initiative' on Wednesday. He added that deal sizes were on the decline side, and the companies needed to pursue dialogue with customers.

Additional growth this year is expected to come from non-English speaking markets, such as ASEAN, Africa and Latin America.

As per NASSCOM's estimates, the IT industry would grow at 12-14 per cent in financial year 2013-14, generating additional revenue of $13-15 billion.