Impact of Global Recession: Kerala Engineering College Campus Recruitments Face Delays

The academic year brings a delay in campus recruitment processes for Kerala engineering colleges, a phenomenon attributed to the global recession. Typically commencing in August and September, this year’s recruitment drive is expected to start in December, affecting colleges and students alike.

Global Recession’s Impact on Recruitment: Placement officials from colleges observe a reduction in staff recruitment by companies this year. Notably, manufacturing and automotive companies are displaying more interest compared to IT giants like Infosys, TCS, Wipro, and Cognizant, which have postponed their recruitment processes. TCS, in particular, has streamlined its campus recruitments due to a national-level selection process, causing delays in placements for several students.

Shift in Recruitment Trends: Colleges such as the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram (CET) saw more students securing positions in manufacturing and automotive sectors last year. Companies like Bosch, L&T, Mercedes, and Renault have been actively recruiting from CET. However, this shift has affected second-tier colleges in Kerala, where IT firms traditionally recruit extensively.

Factors Contributing to Delay: The delayed onboarding of last year’s recruits and sluggish projects in Europe and the US have further contributed to the slowdown in campus recruitments. Industry experts, including Dr. Sabu VR, the placement officer at Sree Chitra Thirunal College of Engineering (SCTCE) in Thiruvananthapuram, note that such recessions occur cyclically and express optimism about future improvements.

Historical Overview of Campus Recruitments:

2019: 1.05 lakhs appointments

2020: 2.08 lakhs appointments

2021: 90,000 appointments

2022: 6 lakhs appointments

The impact of the global recession is shaping the recruitment landscape, urging colleges and students to adapt to changing industry demands and market dynamics.