The introduction of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphones in August 2021 has positioned the Apple ecosystem as a significant job generator in India. With a workforce exceeding 150,000 individuals, it has become the primary source of blue-collar employment in the nation.
Government officials and experts informed that a considerable number of these workers are youthful individuals seeking their first employment, typically ranging between 19 to 24 years old. Moreover, approximately 300,000 individuals have secured indirect job prospects within the ecosystem. Entities benefiting from incentives under the PLI scheme are required to disclose their employment generation statistics.
Apple's direct workforce in India comprises nearly 3,000 individuals. Officials state that iOS app development sustains an impressive one million positions. As cited by a financial daily's source, the Apple ecosystem could have produced more than 400,000 employment opportunities, encompassing both direct and indirect roles, within the past 32 months.
Apple's strategic focus on India, the world's second-largest smartphone market, has intensified amidst global tensions and market challenges in the US and China. Commencing iPhone manufacturing in India in 2017, the company has ramped up local production in alignment with the PLI scheme. Collaborating with suppliers, including Foxconn, Wistron, and Pegatron, Apple has not only assembled the latest iPhone models but also increased local component production.
In the previous year, Tata Group purchased Wistron's India division from its Taiwanese parent organization. The trio of suppliers, eligible for incentives under the PLI scheme, have cumulatively created more than 77,000 direct employment opportunities. Foxconn takes the lead with 41,000 jobs, trailed by Wistron and Pegatron.
In the coming months, iPhone factories are anticipated to hire more than 10,000 individuals during the peak production period from June to September. Production figures for FY24 have already surpassed Rs 1 lakh crore in February, with market value estimates reaching Rs 1.6 lakh crore. Experts have noted that Apple has surpassed the production targets set under the PLI scheme, potentially positioning the company as the leading phone manufacturer in the country in terms of value.
Apple is expanding its network of Indian suppliers to aid in transitioning production from China. Spanning various states, these suppliers have generated more than 70,000 fresh direct employment opportunities alongside those offered by contract manufacturers. Prominent contributors to job creation among Apple suppliers include Tata Electronics and Salcomp Technologies. Additionally, companies such as Foxlink and Sunwoda, specializing in cable and battery production, make significant contributions to employment growth.
Moreover, Avary Technologies, CCL Industries, and Flex, pivotal suppliers of iPhone sub-assemblies and components, have created numerous new employment openings. In alignment with nurturing this burgeoning ecosystem, Apple has launched an educational initiative focused on women's health as part of its $50-million Supplier Employee Development Fund.