Students prefer IT, finance over core jobs, says IIT Roorkee director

A growing number of students at IIT Roorkee are turning away from traditional roles in the process industry, opting instead for jobs in IT, finance, and consultancy.

This shift, driven largely by salary expectations and workplace comfort, has raised concerns among the institute’s leadership.

"Students are now not going for hardcore jobs, which is a kind of worry. They look at IT jobs, banking, finance, and consultancy. In the beginning, they look at the (pay) package and the job comfort…so, whether they have an office, computer, or AC room," said IIT Roorkee Director Prof Kamal Kishore Pant during the institute’s convocation this week.

Prof Pant noted that despite efforts to promote careers in core industries, many students remain reluctant.

“Though we are encouraging students to consider this field, they do not want to enter the process industry. Industries are coming to the institute, and we are building strong connections with MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) as well as large-scale industries. Computer, IT…these jobs may offer lucrative pay packages; however, if you look at the long term, then these hardcore industries also pay equally well,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of broadening student perspectives beyond the tech sector.

“This is the kind of lesson or training we have to give the young generation and their parents when they join the institute. They should not look at only one branch; they should look at other branches also…mechanical, electrical, chemical…because these are equally important,” he said, adding that these sectors are vital to national development and GDP growth.

Asked if the hesitation to join core industries was linked to salary differences, he acknowledged, “Yes, of course… Because when you talk about multinational tech companies like Google, Microsoft, etc., their packages are different compared to core industries. On average, salaries in hardcore industries are around ₹20–25 lakh per year. However, in these companies, packages can reach ₹1–2 crore, as salaries are sometimes paid in dollars even when the employees are working in India.”

Prof Pant pointed out that such high-end offers are limited in number. “There will always be a kind of Gaussian distribution,” he said, indicating that not every student will secure a top-tier package.

Responding to reports of declining placement rates at IITs, he said, “I would not call it a decline, because on average about 85% of those who appear for placements are getting jobs. If you calculate against the total number of graduating students, the figure looks lower, since many do not sit for placements. That is not the correct way to measure. The right metric is how many of those who registered for placements were selected, and that figure is over 85%.”

Data from a recent Parliamentary Standing Committee report showed that more than half of India’s 23 IITs saw placement rates for BTech students fall by over 10 percentage points in 2023-24 compared to 2021-22.

At IIT Roorkee, placement dropped from 98.54% in 2021-22 (822 students) to 79.66% in 2023-24 (1052 students).

Prof Pant attributed part of this shift to evolving student aspirations. “Yes. Students today have different mindsets. Some want to start their own companies, some are pursuing higher education, though that number is now decreasing, and many prefer to do something independently within the country. They are forming teams and launching different kinds of start-ups, so that trend is also emerging,” he said.

He added that the institute is actively supporting entrepreneurship and skill development to help students pursue alternative career paths.