With Donald Trump administration in US tightening visa norms and resorting to other protectionist measures, India’s second-largest IT services firm Infosys has said it would hire 2,000 Americans in North Carolina by 2021.
The Bangalore-headquartered company said it plans to set up four technology and innovation hubs in US and the second one would be in North Carolina. Infosys is planning to hire 500 people by the end of two years and the rest by 2021, reports Business Standard.
Infosys had earlier announced that it would hire 10,000 Americans and set up four technology and innovation centers in the US. The first hub is being set up in Indiana and the company plans to hire 2,000 American workers there by 2021.
The company’s drive towards hiring Americans comes at a time when the US administration has proposed measures to restrict issue of H1B visas for highly-skilled workers and higher minimum wages for H1B visa holders.
Earlier in April, market leader Tata Consultancy Services announced that it had recruited over 11,500 people outside India during 2016-17, including graduates from engineering and B-schools in the US.
For the $150-billion Indian outsourcing industry, protectionist measures in US, Australia and New Zealand markets are posing a major challenge forcing them to rethink hiring strategies.
Earlier these companies used to rely on hiring large numbers of engineering graduates in India, who were then posted to overseas client locations. This model had helped the industry win multi-billion dollar contracts, but it also angered the local populations.
At least President Donald J. Trump is trying to increase opportunities for qualified American workers!!