Apple's Indian Operations Expected To Create 600,000 Jobs By Year-End: Report

Apple has become the leading creator of blue-collar jobs in India in recent years, with a workforce predominantly made up of women and newcomers to the industry, according to the report

Apple’s operations in India are set to create up to 600,000 jobs by the end of this financial year, supported by the company's major expansion in the region as it aims to lessen its dependence on Chinese production, according to a report by The Economic Times. By March of next year, Apple is expected to have 200,000 direct positions in India, with women projected to fill approximately 70 per cent of these roles, based on estimates and data from the company and its suppliers provided to the government.

The report cited sources indicating that Apple’s three contract manufacturers in India—Foxconn, Wistron (now Tata Electronics), and Pegatron—have already generated 80,872 direct jobs. In addition, broader suppliers such as Tata Group, Salcomp, Motherson, Foxlink (in Tamil Nadu), Sunwoda (in Uttar Pradesh), ATL (in Haryana), and Jabil (in Maharashtra) have collectively created approximately 84,000 direct jobs.

Apple has become the leading creator of blue-collar jobs in India in recent years, with a workforce predominantly made up of women and newcomers to the industry, according to the report. An official cited in the report noted, "Overall, Apple vendors and suppliers have created around 165,000 direct jobs since the inception of the smartphone PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme in 2020.”

Tata Group's dual facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, is expected to create approximately 50,000 jobs over time. The iPhone production unit, situated adjacent to the group's enclosure manufacturing plant, is set to commence commercial production of iPhones this October. The report also noted that production capacity will be gradually expanded.

The government estimates that for every direct job in the electronics sector, three additional indirect jobs are created. This suggests that the Apple ecosystem could generate between 500,000 and 600,000 jobs by the end of March.

When the smartphone PLI scheme was launched in 2020, it aimed to create 200,000 direct jobs through 10 selected companies over five years. However, the Apple ecosystem has achieved this target in just four years, as per the report.

Apple has effectively replicated its China model in India, establishing a robust ecosystem and generating significant employment opportunities. Over the past 25 years, Apple has reportedly created over 4 million jobs in China across its manufacturing and app development sectors.