News: India will see Manpower strength double in 2007

(DNA 14/09/2006) New Delhi - Employment services firm Manpower Inc is looking at doubling headcount to 1,000 in 2007 and setting up 20 offices in tier-II cities in India, its chairman and CEO, Jeffrey Joerres, said on Wednesday.

Sounding extremely bullish on the high-growth Indian market, Joerres said the company sees substantial revenue contribution from its Indian arm in future even though it currently contributes less than $1 billion to its $19 billion global pie.

“We have aggressive plans for India over the next three years, where we will be expanding our existing offices in the metros along with setting up new offices in small towns.”

He, however, declined to share investment plans.

Globally, it aims to be a $35-billion company in the next five years.

The Manpower chief feels that outsourcing is here to stay even though the labour arbitrage may not be as lucrative as it was earlier. “The shortage of people in US and European market is so great that services will continue be offshored to India which has more experience with the global economy as compared to other competing nations,” said Joerres. But, Indian companies need to keep up the quality of services if they want to embark on a natural expansion plan for the existing services, he pointed out. According to him, there could be a huge opportunity in India’s entry-level job market if growth in services sector can be combined with manufacturing boom.

“Globally, India is being looked at as a good brand. Though earlier brand India was in a delicate position because of a certain amount of envy due to job losses, the scene is different now,” said Joerres.

As companies overseas continue to be pragmatic about their goals, they churn out profits due to outsourcing, resulting in creation of more jobs there.