Dive Brief:
- India-based Infosys Ltd. has announced that it will move forward with hiring at least 10,000 Americans by 2019, reports Bloomberg. This is partly a result of pressure from the current administration to stop off-shoring jobs in the technology sector, and executive orders to overhaul the H-1B visa program.
- The company currently employs around 200,000 global workers, and plans an expansion of US-based hiring by adding 4 new research hubs focused on AI and machine learning. Indiana is slated for the first hub to be opened in August of 2017, with 2,000 local jobs to be created.
- Infosys' Chief Executive Officer Vishal Sikka said in an interview that a mix of local and global talent is the right thing to do, given the rapid changes that the industry is undergoing. However, the need to hire overseas talent is still vital because of shortages of certain skills in the USA. Infosys has a strong internal cross-training program that helps offset this problem.
Dive Insight:
The shift to hiring more local candidates to fill technology roles in the U.S. won't be an easy one. Many companies rely on recruitment outsourcing to not only find qualified talent, but also to reduce project costs. However, the Trump administration has sent a clear message to all industries that they must create more US-based jobs for Americans.
Amid reform, organizations like Infosys are taking proactive measures to maintain a positive relationship with its global base of customers by vowing to hire a large number of American workers over the next two years. At the same time, the company is turning to training to ensure they can stay ahead of skill shortages. Other companies are likely to follow suit as they navigate the challenges of H-1B reform and regulation.
