Infosys announces plans for new tech hub, 1,000 jobs in Arizona
Sep 20, 2018, 5:05 PM | Updated: Sep 21, 2018, 8:33 am
From left, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Infosys President Ravi Kumar and Arizona State University President Michael Crow. (Screenshot)
(Screenshot)
PHOENIX — Global tech consulting firm Infosys announced Thursday it would open a technology and innovation hub in Arizona, pledging to create 1,000 jobs by 2023.
The location hasn’t yet been determined, but build-out will be completed quickly when it is, Infosys President Ravi Kumar said during a news conference.
Kumar said hiring would begin immediately, adding to the company’s workforce of more than 800 employees already in Arizona.
The announcement was part of an initiative Infosys started last year to create 10,000 jobs nationally. The company has already has made 5,700 hires toward that goal and launched technology and innovation hubs in Indiana and North Carolina.
“When we started the journey we realized there isn’t enough (talent) available in the first place, so we have to create net new talent which doesn’t exist in the market today,” Kumar said.
The company is working on partnerships with Arizona universities to help create that talent through eight- to 12-week “finishing schools” for new graduates.
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“So we are not here because there is enough tech talent; we are here because there is enough university talent available so we can convert them into tech talent for ourselves and the industry,” Kumar said.
He also cited the government’s willingness to partner with the company as a reason for choosing Arizona.
Infosys, which was No. 47 on Forbes’ list of the best employers for new college graduates, will focus on students in STEM subjects but also will consider humanities, design and liberal arts.
Most of the Arizona hires will come from colleges, with a small portion coming from the existing talent pool, Kumar said.
Kumar praised the state’s potential to become a major tech player.
“Arizona as a state has a great confluence of manufacturing, high tech and technology companies, so this could be the IoT (internet of things) center for the United States, and potentially the IoT center … for the world,” he said.
Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona State University President Michael Crow also spoke during the announcement.
