SME Ministry Expands India SW Talent Pool to 30,000, Drives Developer Hiring

As the software (SW) talent shortage for domestic venture companies deepens, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has presented an innovative solution. Starting April 3rd, the 'Overseas Excellent SW Developer Recruitment Connection Program' will officially launch, inviting venture companies that require experienced developers. This program is a specialized support measure for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and venture companies facing difficulties in securing SW professionals, connecting them with world-class developers, including graduates from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The severe talent shortage forms the backdrop for this support. According to a joint survey conducted by the MSS and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in July 2023, 75.4% of SMEs reported difficulties in recruiting and retaining SW professionals. Notably, when surveyed about preferences for overseas talent, India was the most preferred (36.4%), followed by Vietnam (31%) and China (11.8%), which supports the direction of this program. The program achieved successful results in its inaugural year in 2024. A total of 358 domestic venture companies applied, and among them, 41 companies ultimately succeeded in hiring 206 Indian SW developers. Of these, 201 worked remotely from India, enhancing flexibility, while 5 directly entered Korea to contribute to innovation. The program is set to expand further in 2025. Recruitment of participating venture companies will begin on April 3rd, and the search for excellent SW developers in India will commence on May 1st, continuing talent matching until the end of the year. Notably, based on its operational experience from the 2024 program, the MSS is fully committed to securing a robust pool of job seekers within India. The existing local desks in Noida (New Delhi) and Bengaluru will be expanded from two to four, with the addition of Pune and Hyderabad. This demonstrates a strong commitment to increasing the Indian SW talent pool by 100%, from the current 15,000 to 30,000, thereby enabling venture companies to recruit a wider and higher-quality range of talent. An information session will also be organized to assist with successful overseas talent recruitment. Scheduled for April 22nd at TipsTown S1 (Tips Hall) in Seoul, the session will provide detailed key information covering all aspects of recruitment, including potential legal issues, complex employment relationships, and practical considerations that must be taken into account when hiring local Indian SW talent. This MSS initiative is expected to significantly contribute to resolving the chronic talent shortage faced by domestic venture companies and enhancing their global competitiveness.