Best Jobs in India and China

High Paying Employment in the Developing Nations

Aug 31, 2007

The fastest job market on the planet, the developing nations have millions of unfilled positions waiting for the Westerner and her expertise.

Your dream job just went to a developing nation, is it feasible to join it? Two countries come to mind when we say the developing nations: India, the world's largest democracy and China, the world's fastest growing economy. A developing nation does not necessarily mean, low paid jobs for the society. The supply-demand curve maintains that India and China supply labor to create the products demanded by the developed nations. Outsourcing has gone to these nations for the reduced cost of production but it has also created new problems – qualified personnel to carry out and teach the tasks required. It has created an internal labor force that has new monetary wealth: a force that desires new ways of spending this wealth. Both areas create unbounded opportunities for Westerns with knowledge, that is no longer valued in their nation. We will present those opportunities.

India

Mumbai (Bombay) is called the “Gateway to the East” for a good reason. Located on the western shore of the Arabian Sea, it leads the surge in development on the planet. Millions of good paying jobs have sprung up throughout India in only the last 5-10 years. Most of these jobs have come from outsourcing or deregulation. Her maximum income tax rate is 33% but demand has allowed the government to "lower" tax rates for critical positions.

The Indian infrastructure needs considerable work but most major cities, while antiquated, have availability and reliability approaching Western nations. Cost of living is low but in urban areas housing can approach those of western cities. The lifestyle will take getting use to and customs differ greatly with those of the West.

China

A lot has been written about China and most of it negative. Much like India, China has a need to increase its infrastructure while continuing to do what makes it successful. As a result Western operational skills are in great demand. The recent recall fiasco, which put China in a bad light, has caused her to make numerous changes: changes that benefit the Westerner with those skills.

However, unlike its neighbor to the southwest, China is a totalitarian nation. A few of the major cities have been given unprecedented freedoms; yet most of the nation is rigidly controlled. She has a maximum income tax rate of 45% however, as in India, rates are negotiable based upon national necessity. Even in the major cities, the cost of living is still extremely low and the quality of life is very high. The only major negative China has is its horrible pollution problem in virtually every city.

According to an August 22, 2005 Business Week article China has led “…300 million [people] out of poverty.” India, on the other hand, is expected to have 500,000,000 cell phone users by 2010 making it the largest single nation for mobile phone customers.

She has the fastest growing airline industry in the world followed closely by China. The Center for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) “…estimates India will need a further 3,000 pilots. Domestic airlines…are being forced to consider a 20% pay hike….foreign pilots get [up to] $18,000 per month....[while]...India churns out only about 150 pilots every year from its 22 training schools, which are also short of trainers.”

But the call centers in India and quality assurance managers in China are also in great demand. While not as well paid as specialty positions, they are good positions; comparable to the job that was outsourced. When considering the extremely low cost of living, the job seeker need only become accustomed to cultural differences and may have a financially rewarding time in the East.

The copyright of the article Best Jobs in India and China in Global Labour Issues is owned by Frank W. Hardy. Permission to republish Best Jobs in India and China in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.