'You don’t have the technology talent': Premji to US

Atlanta, Feb 6: Azim Premji, the CEO and Chairman of Wipro Ltd said that the lack of technology talent in the US is a `serious problem’.

Premji has urged the United States' business leadership to "take the problem by the horns" and address the country's growing shortage of high-tech professionals, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

"America does not have the talent. There's a huge shortage of IT professionals here," Premji was quoted.

Wipro is in the process of opening its first American software development centre in Atlanta and plans to hire 200 professionals here within a year. The work force would be extended to 500 within three years. The company will fill positions in software development and back-office processing.

The number of awarded engineering degrees in the United States has dropped 20% over the past two decades, according to pro worker-visa-advocacy group Compete America.

Premji, who strongly advocates that the visa cap would hurt American competitiveness, said the IT industry here needs to proselytize more to students about the benefits of computing jobs.

Source: India Syndicate