Major Drop in Campus Placements for Technology & Engineering Graduates
- MHRD stated that 1 out of 3 IIT graduates was not hired this year.
- Shrinking job opportunities in IT sector a major reason for decline in employment.
- Current scenario is temporary; number of job offers expected to go up in coming years.
The technical institutes across the country have been witnessing a severe drop in campus placements. Recently, MHRD released a statement stating that one out of three IIT graduates was not hired this year. Similarly, various other technical institutes across the country have been facing the same problem. This year, the campus recruitments witnessed 15 to 35 percent decline in the number of students being placed. Experts were of the opinion that the shrinking job opportunities in the IT sector are one of the major reasons for the decline in the number of students being placed.
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However, heads of some of the technical institutes indicated that the average pay package has not been affected. Compared to the previous years, the number of offers made by the companies declined this year. For instance, a total number of 526 students bagged jobs in campus placements in 2016 at Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering. This year, only 405 students secured jobs.
One of the experts felt that various global factors are responsible for the current employment scenario. IT industry has slowed down in the recent years, and massive automation are some of the reasons for the decline in the number of employment opportunities.
Placement Officer at College of Engineering, Pune revealed that around 95% of final year students secured jobs this year., mostly in the manufacturing sector. The current scenario did not affect the campus placements at College of Engineering, he added.
PVG’s College of Engineering is one of the institutes that has been severely affected by the decline in the number of offers made by companies. Finally, the college decided to introduce skill development courses to ensure internship opportunities for its students.
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Students who completed engineering in IT, electronics and telecommunications and computer engineering are struggling to get better employment opportunities. MIT College of Engineering and Vishwakarma Institute are also facing the similar issue. These institutes are trying to conduct multiple rounds of off-campus placements to place the maximum number of students.
According to experts, the current scenario is temporary, and the number of job offers is expected to increase in the coming years.