India’s telecom sector has been at the forefront of rapid 5G deployment, but it faces a significant talent shortage of nearly 2.4 million individuals, according to a report titled “Telecom Talent in 5G Era: Demand Supply Skill Gap Report 2023–24,” released by the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) in collaboration with Indian startup Draup, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI). The talent gap is projected to grow 3.8 times larger by 2030, as per the report.
A primary reason for this gap is the mismatch between academic qualifications and the industry’s needs. For instance, only 40% of Indian graduates in mathematics, computer science, and IT are employable in the technology sector. The report notes that “the demand-supply gap is exacerbated by the skill shortage observed in early and fresh talent.” It further widens as the industry faces a surge in talent demand and job vacancies due to the constant shifts in technological paradigms.
The Indian telecom sector currently employs around 11.59 million people, with 2.95 million in white-collar roles and 8.24 million in blue-collar positions. However, the report predicts that India will need 22 million skilled workers in 5G-related industries by 2025, including areas like cloud computing, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The report also highlights that a significant challenge is that many students are unaware of the career prospects and earnings potential in the 5G industry.
Another complicating factor is that 33% of top network engineering and operations roles lack the skills necessary to address emerging innovations. The report identifies machine learning engineers, deep learning engineers, and data scientists as the key job positions in today’s telecom industry. Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru are the cities with the highest talent availability, accounting for over 41% of the current workforce.
Despite the significant gap, the report suggests that India has the potential to address the growing demand-supply gap by 2030 through reskilling and hiring strategies, particularly targeting talent in Tier-II & III cities and universities. Addressing the talent gap is crucial, given the economic importance of 5G technology and India’s aspirations to contribute to the standardization of 6G. The report emphasizes that telecom companies have a limited window of one to two years to develop 5G capabilities, expedite 5G deployment, and prepare for 6G capabilities to embrace emerging trends like the metaverse. While India faces a talent challenge, the report notes that China has a more significant issue, with a lower potential for talent growth.
