Indian IT firms invested $1billion in US talent training: Nasscom

BENGALURU: Even amid protectionist rhetoric from successive US administrations, the Indian IT industry has invested over $1 billion in local upskilling and hiring, driving a sharp rise in local recruitment. Over the years, Indian and India-centric firms in the US have steadily reduced their dependence on H-1B visas while expanding their domestic workforce. According to IT industry body Nasscom, the number of H-1B visas issued to leading Indian and India-centric companies fell from 14,792 in 2015 to 10,162 in 2024. H-1B workers now account for less than 1% of the total employee base of the top 10 such firms.

"Moreover, with the fee being applicable from 2026 onward, it gives companies time to further step up skilling programs in the US and enhance local hiring. H-1B workers for the top 10 Indian and India centric companies are less than 1% of their entire employee base. Given this trajectory, we anticipate only a marginal impact for the sector," Nasscom said.

India's technology sector is projected to touch $300 billion in 2025-26, growing 6% over the previous year, according to Nasscom's Annual Strategic Review 2025. The sector grew 5.1% in 2024-25, adding $13.8 billion in revenue to reach $282.6 billion. Nasscom also revised its earlier estimate for 2023-24, pegging it at $268.8 billion versus the $254 billion stated previously. With a 7.3% share of India's GDP, the tech sector continues to play a pivotal role in the country's economy.

Nasscom noted that H-1B is a high-skilled worker mobility programme and a non-immigrant visa that helps bridge critical skills gaps in the US. Salaries for H-1B workers are on par with local hires, and they make up only a fractional share of the overall US workforce.

"Nasscom has consistently advocated for predictable and stable skilled talent mobility frameworks, which are critical for sustaining national competitiveness and have long fuelled US innovation and economic growth. Skilled talent mobility will be central to enabling businesses to make forward-looking investment decisions, accelerate research, and strengthen nations' position in the global innovation economy."