Those shouting doom for the Indian economy because of the impending talent crunch can take heart from this one. In 2007, only 9 per cent of Indian employers found it difficult to fill positions because of lack of suitable talent as against 41 per cent of employers worldwide.

What’s more, as opposed to the global trend, the crunch seems to be easing off in India as just last year 13 per cent of Indian employers reported difficulty in hiring. Remarkably, the 2007 figures are also the least of all country statistics reported by the global recruitment firm Manpower that conducted the study in late January 2007.

The survey covered 37,000 employers across 27 countries, including 4,858 employers in India. Other countries where the talent shortage is not so severe are Ireland (17 per cent), Netherlands (17 per cent) and China (19 per cent). Those looking for a job can also head out to countries like Costa Rica (93 per cent reporting shortages), Mexico (82 per cent), New Zealand (62 per cent), Australia (61 per cent) and Japan (61 per cent) and Singapore (57 per cent) that have stark demand-supply gaps when it comes to human resources. All the above countries reported an increase in difficulty in hiring over 2006. (Costa Rican figures for 2006 are not available). Clearly, the talent crunch situation in these countries is much worse in comparison to India.

Within India, the top ten jobs that employees find difficult to fill — in order of ranking — are engineers, IT staff, technicians, sales representatives, teachers, marketing staff, management/executives, skilled manual trades, accounting and finance staff and receptionists and front office staff.


The Indian situation is similar to the rest of the world when it comes to specific skill pool scarcity. “Across North America and Asia, the top three talent shortages are identical-sales representatives rank number one, followed by engineers and technicians,” said Jeffrey A Joerres, chairman & CEO of Manpower Inc.

The Manpower survey also notes that while demograhic immobility can cause talent shortages within countries, in India’s case the problem seems to be easing with much of the recruitment being done outside of Bangalore and Mumbai, cities that were hubs of recruitment earlier.

“The talent crunch is strongest in engineering jobs as compared to last year, when sales representatives topped the list of jobs lacking suitable talent availability,” said Manpower India’s executive chairman Soumen Basu.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com

MANGO pulp manufacturers and exporters in Gujarat have started feeling the heat of lower mango production in South Gujarat this year as canners, who manufacture mango pulp fear that lower mango production this season is likely to reduce the production of mango pulp.

Some of the canners also see chances of financial losses if the prices of mango surge in days to come.

Admitting the fact the canners in South Gujarat are poised to take a hit on their profits Kishorbhai Nayak, former president, Gadat Vividh Vibhag Karyakari Sahakari Mandli, a South Gujarat-based leading fruit and vegetable co-operative, said, “Canners, who produce mango pulp, can not afford to purchase mango at the prices of Rs 12-13 per kg”.

Citing example, he said that two years back, prices of mango had shot up due to lower production. The canners of Gadat co-operative were forced to purchase mango at a price of Rs 12.47 per kg and as result of higher prices canners had incurred the loss of Rs 21 lakh. He also said that if the prices of mango remain firm in the days to come, canners might be faced with similar situation they had to face two years back. It may be mentioned here that the mango production in South Gujarat is likely to be around 30-40% of the total production registered last year.

As per the data available with the department, last year more than 90,000 hectare were brought under mango cultivation and the total production stood 7.72 lakh metric tonne.

Speaking to Express News Service, Hemantbhai Nayak, honorary manager, Valsad District Fruit and Vegetable Co-operative, said that lower mango output in the state is likely to take its toll on the mango pulp production as prices may surge in the wake of lower production this season.

Currently, canners are facing procurement problems and it will impact the volume of mango pulp to be produced this season. Last year, around 6,000-7,000 tonne of mango went into pulp manufacturing.

This year the quantity would be lesser as compared to last year.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com