Digital Apprenticeships: The Next Talent Advantage for IT/ITeS
The IT and ITeS sector has always been India’s pride. From driving exports to creating millions of jobs, and powering global digital transformation. Today, however, the industry faces a twin challenge: finding the right talent at scale, and keeping it cost-effective.
While on the one hand hiring fresh graduates can often mean long training cycles before they’re job-ready, on the other hand, lateral hiring comes with high salary costs and rising attrition.
The result? Companies are spending more on talent but still struggling with skill gaps.
This is where apprenticeships step in.
Learning on the Job, Literally
Unlike internships, apprenticeships are structured, paid programs where young people work on real projects while receiving training. For companies, it means talent is shaped from day one to fit specific business needs. For individuals, it creates a clear path from learning to employment.
The Apprentices Act 1961 makes this even more attractive. Under this Act, employers get financial support for stipends, reducing manpower costs significantly. More importantly, it helps companies tap into a pool of eager, trainable talent that can grow with the organization.
Why Pay More for Less?
So why should IT/ITeS companies look at digital apprenticeships seriously?
Globally, apprenticeships have long been part of the talent playbook. In the UK and Germany, digital apprenticeships are central to workforce development. In India too, adoption is rising with apprentices now accounting for close to 30% of entry-level intake in IT-BPO (Times of India, 2025).
And yet, many in our industry still see apprenticeships as “meant for manufacturing.” That mindset needs to change. The skills powering the future, coding, data analysis, digital infrastructure, can and should be built through work-integrated learning.
Stick Around, Don’t Bounce
The question for IT/ITeS leaders isn’t “Can apprenticeships work here?” but “Can we afford not to?”
At SAHI, we believe digital apprenticeships are not just about filling today’s vacancies. They’re about building the workforce of tomorrow – one that is skilled, future-ready, and aligned with business needs.
This October, as we host the Apprenticeship for Digital event in Hyderabad/Bangalore, we invite industry, government, and training partners to come together and unlock this opportunity.
Because the future of talent isn’t hired. It’s built.
