E-commerce to generate about 2.5 lakh jobs by 2016 in India: Assocham

During 2016 e-commerce is likely to generate some 2.5 lakh jobs in the India’s online retail industry, including temporary employees, supply chain, logistics and ancillary units, a apex trade association said.

Estimates released on Friday (5th Feb, 2016) by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), 2.5 million people will be needed to work within the e-commerce industry by 2016.

Assocham said in a research paper that the market for e-commerce in India was worth about $ 3.8 billion (about Rs.25.692 crore) in 2009, it went up to $ 17 billion (about Rs.1,14,940 crores) in 2014 and $ 23 billion (about Rs.1,55,507 crore) in 2015 and was expected to touch a whopping $ 38 billion mark (about Rs.2,56,925 crore) by 2016.

The document shows that the majority of departments and eCommerce companies increased their turnover since last year and present a huge opportunity for the industry to develop further.

According to Assocham, e-commerce industry will be looking over the next 12 months for more people to add to about 3,50,000 who work for it currently. Increasing smartphone ownership and investment from retailers are fuelling the rapid growth of m-commerce in India.

“The hiring activities are expected to grow by over 60-65 percent in this sector and may help create between 5-8 lakh employment opportunities in two to three years,” Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat said.

“Increasing Internet and mobile penetration, growing acceptability of online payments and favourable demographics have provided the e-commerce sector in India the unique opportunity to connect with their customers,” the paper said.

“India is successful in becoming the largest e-commerce market in the world. The rapid transformation in logistics, innovation, consumerism and productivity prove to be an interesting case study for other emerging economies,” Rawat added.