With accelerated urbanization and the dire need to put India on the global infrastructure map, the sector has witnessed a fast-paced development in recent years. The coming years are likely to see rapid growth in the infrastructure sector.

If you are enthusiastic about this industry and planning to pursue a career in this field, then now is the time! Infrastructure Development and Management has risen as a niche career option among students, especially for those who are enrolled in an MBA programme.

Interested but still apprehensive about taking up a career in this sector? Well, here is what you need to know:

• Glorious Career Prospects

India is set to become the third-largest construction market in the world by 2022. Its real estate market will also grow to USD 650 billion by 2025 surpassing USD 850 billion by 2028 and all set to touch USD 1 trillion by 2030.

Notably, the Indian government has allocated Rs 4.56 lakh crore and launched various schemes to expedite the progress of infrastructure projects. This will lead to a surge in the activities in the infrastructure industry resulting in increased employment opportunities.

• Versatility in Careers

Infrastructure is divided into sub-sectors such as real estate, energy, dams and bridges, rail/road/air transport, renewable energy, smart cities, sewage system, telecom, agriculture and defence to name a few. Within the sector, job opportunities exist in the fields of contract management, project management, project finance management and project consultancy management.

• Job Advancement Opportunities

The infrastructure sector is so vast that you will never encounter any career stagnancy or boredom. Every project is diverse in nature and also in terms of the learning from each. You can shape your career path in both vertical and horizontal domains of the sector, depending on your interest and expertise.

As you start to gain experience, the chances of greater job role enhancement are high.

•  Stability and Security

The infrastructure industry is a continuously growing sector. With changing dynamics in demographics, there will always be more demand for housing, power and additional infrastructure amenities. This industry is comparatively more insulated from the recession. In the worst case, governments are known to have stepped in to give a booster dose. There is significantly less likelihood of recession or downsizing in this sector.

Hence, you can be rest assured of job stability and security.

• Career & Compensation

The employers are ready to pay good salaries and perks to encourage talent to work for them. Also, since the sector is compelling, requiring the professionals to enhance their skills and adapting to changing trends with agility, they get paid well.

• Job Satisfaction

The infrastructure sector is all about constituting new things, making lives of people better, creating a “happy” community and directing the country’s economy towards growth. At the end of the day, when you look back at your work, it will give you a sense of pride and joy that you could actually contribute to ‘national development’.  

As of now, the infrastructure sector is facing a shortage of qualified and trained people. Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development trains its students to leverage their in class learning from the word go by way of live live projects and assignments with the urban local bodies which are over and above the 3 month summer internship.  

As techniques & technologies are updated, employees are required to adapt themselves. The most gratifying part of a career in this sector is the joy of creating, making a difference to people’s lives and contributing to it.

• Travel and Offshore Career Opportunities

Infrastructure projects are not restricted to one city or country. If you have the right profile, then you can be hired for transnational projects. You not only get opportunities to travel and explore distinct places but also improve your networking.

International work experience on your resume can be a stepping stone to land a job in another country. Global experience gives you the leverage to demand a better salary and improved employability, making you eligible for better compensation & benefits.

• Entrepreneurship Opportunities

If you are someone who believes in taking risks, being your boss and do social good, then a career in infrastructure entrepreneurship is perfect for you.

These days, various people have taken a plunge into entrepreneurship to design smart, affordable and technology-driven solutions for the infrastructure sector. There is a demand for entrepreneurs who can create futuristic, economically, socially and environmentally sustainable infrastructure solutions—another area where you can think of building your career.

As is obvious from the points mentioned above, there is no doubt that a career in infrastructure development and management could take your professional growth to the next level.