WionDrive News Desk 
As India aims to capture a significant share of the global semiconductor manufacturing industry, a report by TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship has shed light on a looming talent shortage that the country’s semiconductor sector is expected to face in the coming years. According to the report, the industry is projected to encounter a deficit of 250,000-300,000 professionals by 2027, spanning verticals such as research and development (R&D), design, manufacturing, and advanced packaging.
This shortage comes at a crucial time when India is actively pursuing a prominent role in the global semiconductor manufacturing landscape. The government’s INR 76,000 crore semiconductor incentive scheme has already approved four major projects, including Micron’s assembly, test, marking, and packaging (ATMP) facility, Tata’s chip manufacturing and assembly project, and CG Power’s chip assembly project. Additionally, more projects are in the pipeline awaiting approval.
Industry estimates suggest that the semiconductor industry in India is projected to reach a staggering USD 100 billion by 2030. To address the impending talent gap, companies and the government have collaborated to introduce specialised semiconductor courses in over 300 prominent colleges across the country.
Degree apprenticeships are being seen as a promising solution to bridge the talent gap, as they offer industries access to a highly qualified workforce by integrating theoretical education with practical training. Ramesh Alluri Reddy, the chief executive officer (CEO) of TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, emphasised the importance of building an ecosystem for higher value creation activities and cultivating a competent workforce through degree apprenticeships and training programs to establish India as a significant player in the semiconductor industry.
The Electronics Sector Skill Council (ESSC), a non-profit organisation, currently offers more than 35 apprenticeship courses under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to address skill shortages at various entry-level positions. Additionally, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme-2 (NAPS-2) aims to promote apprenticeship training in the country by providing partial stipend support, undertaking capacity building of the apprenticeship ecosystem, and offering advocacy assistance to stakeholders.
According to Sumit Kumar, the chief business officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, the number of apprenticeships in the electronics industry has witnessed a remarkable increase, growing over 12 times from 7,517 in FY20 to 91,948 in FY24.
As India strives to establish itself as a major player in the semiconductor industry, addressing the impending talent shortage through concerted efforts in education, training, and apprenticeship programs will be crucial for the country’s long-term success in this strategically important sector.
