Telecom sector to ramp up absorption of apprentices into permanent roles

Absorption of apprentices into the permanent workforce in the telecom sector is expected to grow from around 20% currently to nearly 30% in the coming year as companies invest in building a skilled workforce to meet 5G resource requirements, staffing experts said.

Building a workforce using apprenticeships could be an effective way to not only create a pool of talent catering to the company’s specific needs, but also drive cost efficiencies in the long run, they added.

“The sentiment for hiring apprentices has undergone a significant improvement in the last year across industries. Over 80% of telecom players are looking for apprentices across the country including the three private players,” said Sachin Alug, chief executive, NLB Services, a staffing firm.

Roles that telecom companies look at filling in this case include telecom tower technician, in-store promoter, network engineer, and assembly line operator.

With the launch of 5G, the demand for skilled roles is on the rise, by the end of the year, telecom companies will see a spike in apprentice hiring, Alug added.

Globally, the apprenticeship program route has been a successful tool globally for bridging the skill gap and cultivating a job-ready workforce.

Given the competition to hire skilled professionals in profiles that overlap in tech and telecom companies, Indian telecom companies could follow the apprenticeship model to gain some edge over other companies.

“While there may be initial investment in training, the long-term cost savings, such as reduced recruitment expenses and increased productivity, would outweigh the associated costs for most companies,” Sanjay Shetty, director, professional search and selection, Randstad India said.

The investment in training apprentices can turn out more efficient as a strategy than hiring fresh talent from the market if telecom companies deploy their apprenticeship programs well.

“The cost efficiencies are not only in terms of the pay packages. When you hire from outside the company fold, the new recruits take some time to reach peak productivity. When apprentices are absorbed into the full-time workforce, they can hit the ground running so to say,” added Sumit Kumar, chief business officer, TeamLease Degree Apprenticeships.

However, staffing experts warn that it will need long term investment on the telecom companies’ part to see the benefits of an apprenticeship programme. The consensus is that companies will need to give apprentice programs 12-18 months to reap rewards.

“You also have to remember that an apprentice who has been with a company for 6 months, cannot be compared to a professional in the same profile with 5 years of experience,” Kumar added.

Experts also agree that compulsory apprenticeship proposed by the government recently can help tap into a pool of young talent who are practically trained and are ready to contribute to the industry’s growth.

“We can only leverage the true potential of apprenticeship programs by keeping academic curriculums agile and dynamic,” Alug observed.

Shetty added that apprentice programs can act as an aid to building a skilled workforce, and companies will need to find a balance between apprentice led hiring, and traditional hiring patterns to achieve maximum business efficiencies.