India’s electronics sector eyes major growth, with 12 million jobs projected by 2027

NEW DELHI: India’s electronics industry is on the brink of a transformative phase as it targets USD 500 billion in manufacturing output by 2030, according to TeamLease report.
Achieving this goal will require the sector to expand fivefold in the next five years, addressing a USD 400 billion production gap. Presently, the industry’s domestic production stands at USD 101 billion, with mobile phones accounting for 43 per cent of this output.
Other key contributors include consumer and industrial electronics (12 per cent each), electronic components (11 per cent), and emerging segments such as auto electronics (8 per cent), LED lighting (3 per cent), wearables and hearables (1 per cent), and PCBAs (1 per cent).
This extraordinary growth trajectory is projected to generate 12 million jobs by 2027, encompassing 3 million direct and 9 million indirect roles. Direct employment opportunities will span nearly 1 million engineers, 2 million ITI-certified professionals, and 200,000 specialists in high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science.
Meanwhile, non-technical roles will account for the bulk of indirect employment opportunities, reflecting the sector’s potential to drive economic growth and create diverse career paths.
Despite its promising outlook, the electronics sector faces a significant talent gap that could impede its progress. This challenge is not just about numbers; it involves a critical shortage of skilled professionals essential for achieving the sector’s ambitious manufacturing goals. Bridging this gap is crucial to strengthening India’s position in the global electronics supply chain.
To address this issue, workforce skills must be aligned with industry needs, particularly in high-demand areas such as semiconductors, electromechanical parts, and both passive and active components.
The talent pool is expected to come from specialized fields such as Electronics and Electrical streams, ITI-certified professionals, and other technical domains, while general education streams can effectively support indirect roles.
AR Ramesh, CEO of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, highlighted the need for targeted skilling programs, stating, “Scaling apprenticeship enrollments, currently growing at a 55 per cent CAGR and projected to reach 1 million apprentices by 2027 to 2 million apprentices, will help create a robust talent pipeline to meet industry needs.”
He added, “To realize its vision of becoming a global leader in electronics manufacturing, India must blend skilling with strategic investments in infrastructure, policy interventions, and innovation to propel the sector forward.”
Sumit Kumar, Chief Strategy Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, emphasized the importance of capacity building, “Employers and industries can strengthen this effort by setting up in-house training centres and collaborating with academia through Work-Integrated Learning Programs (WILP) and degree apprenticeships.”
He added, “Scaling apprenticeship programs, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives for over 50 per cent of the workforce, alongside robust capacity-building measures, will empower India to bridge the skills gap and drive sustainable growth, solidifying its position as a global leader in electronics.”
To realize its vision of becoming a global leader in electronics manufacturing, India must adopt a multi-pronged approach. This includes investing in skilling programs, fostering industry-academia partnerships, and enhancing infrastructure and policy support.
Efforts to increase ITI enrollment, establish in-house training centres, and expand apprenticeship opportunities will be pivotal.
Scaling reskilling and upskilling initiatives for over 50 per cent of the workforce, coupled with robust capacity-building measures, can empower the sector to overcome talent shortages and sustain its rapid growth trajectory.