Apple ecosystem the biggest blue-collar job creator for India! Since the launch of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphones in August 2021, the Apple ecosystem has emerged as a major job creator in India. Directly employing over 150,000 individuals, it stands as the largest blue-collar employer in the country.
Government officials and experts told ET that a significant portion of these employees are young first-time job seekers aged between 19 to 24 years.Additionally, an estimated 300,000 people have found indirect employment opportunities through the ecosystem. Companies availing incentives under the PLI scheme are mandated to report the job creation data.
Apple’s direct employment in India extends to nearly 3,000 individuals. iOS app development supports a staggering one million jobs, as per officials. According to an official quoted by the financial daily, the Apple ecosystem may have generated over 400,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly, in the last 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.
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Last year, Tata Group acquired Wistron’s India unit from its Taiwanese parent company. The trio of suppliers, authorized for incentives under the PLI scheme, have collectively generated over 77,000 direct jobs, with Foxconn leading at 41,000, followed 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.
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Apple has a growing network of Indian suppliers to facilitate the transition of production from China. Spread across multiple states, these suppliers have created over 70,000 new direct jobs, in addition to the employment opportunities provided by the contract manufacturers. Notable job creators among Apple suppliers include Tata Electronics and Salcomp Technologies. Moreover, suppliers like Foxlink and Sunwoda, producing cables and batteries, contribute significantly to job creation.
Also,, Avary Technologies, CCL Industries, and Flex, key suppliers of iPhone sub-assemblies and components, have generated several thousand new job opportunities.
In line with fostering this expanding ecosystem, Apple has initiated an educational program centered on women’s health, as a component of its $50-million Supplier Employee Development Fund.