Being Benched, IT style

IT industry hit by shortage of projects from Europe and US - The Economic Times: "Top Indian information technology companies will add to their already bloated bench strength in the coming quarters, as the $100-billion domestic industry battles a slowdown in projects from the West, its biggest revenue generator, and employees are left without work.

According to industry watchers, shortage of projects from Europe and the US has forced software engineers to sit without projects for more than six months now, and utilisation rates could dip further with new campus recruits joining the workforce from this month.

"Barring a few quarters, projects have slowed down considerably in the last few years. While earlier clients would be ready to pay for the number of employees required plus for 20 per cent more, now they are not, leading to an inflated bench," said Amitabh Das, chief executive of Vati Consulting, a recruitment firm. There is uncertainty in the market and it could lead to retrenchment, Das added.
"

'via Blog this'