Telecom players likely to make job offers to 30% apprentices this FY

The telecom sector's absorption of apprentices into permanent roles is expected to grow to nearly 30% this financial year from about 20% now as companies invest in bolstering workforce capabilities to meet 5G network requirements, staffing experts said. Building a workforce using apprenticeships could be an effective way to create a pool of talent and also drive cost efficiencies in the long run, the experts said.

"The sentiment for hiring apprentices has undergone a significant improvement in the last year across industries," said Sachin Alug, CEO, NLB Services, a staffing firm. "Over 80% of telecom players are looking for apprentices." With the launch of 5G, the demand for skilled roles is on the rise, and by the year-end, telecom firms will see a spike in apprentice hiring, Alug said. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea did not respond to ET's queries.