The electronics industry is one of India’s fastest-growing sectors, driving innovation, jobs, and entrepreneurship. With rapid advances in semiconductors, EMS, and emerging technologies like AI and IoT, the need for skilled talent has never been greater. This panel discussion brings together industry leaders and experts to explore opportunities, challenges, and action points for bridging the skill gap and preparing a future-ready workforce.
In this panel discussion, Dr. Madhuri Dubey, Founder-Director, NSN, engages with Mr. Saleem Ahmed, Officiating CEO, Electronics Sector Skills Council – ESSCI; Mr. Subnesh Sharma, AVP, HR Strategy, VVDN Technologies and Dr. Devraj Singh, Expert on Semiconductors, SMC.
The discussion explores emerging sub-sectors in the electronics industry, critical skill gaps, job opportunities, and the role of education, training, industry initiatives like Semicon India in shaping the future workforce and more.
Below are a few excerpts from our conversation. You can watch the full video on our YouTube channel.
Q. What emerging sub-sectors in the electronics industry are creating jobs and offering scope for entrepreneurship?
Mr. Saleem Ahmed: The electronics industry in India is at a very exciting stage. Electronic manufacturing has grown at a CAGR of over 16% in the last 7–8 years, and by 2030, it is expected to create nearly 15 lakh new jobs. Two key sub-sectors driving this growth are Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) and semiconductors.
In EMS alone, the workforce is projected to grow from 13.2 lakh to over 21 lakh, creating more than 8 lakh new jobs. Common roles include semi-line operators, EMS technicians, assembly operators, and wiring technicians, primarily for large-scale manufacturers.
The government is also boosting the sector through initiatives like EMC 2.0 clusters, PLI schemes, and the Indian Semiconductor Mission, which will require over 1 lakh skilled technicians across design, manufacturing, testing, marking, and packaging.
Importantly, these sub-sectors also support entrepreneurship, with EMC clusters enabling both large industries and smaller ancillary units to thrive. Overall, EMS and semiconductors present bright opportunities for jobs and entrepreneurship in the years ahead.
Q. What emerging job roles and skill gaps do you see in the electronics industry across ITIs, engineering colleges, and schools?
Mr. Subnesh Sharma: From an HR perspective, the biggest challenge we face is the gap between the talent industry needs and what institutions produce. While academics are making efforts, there are clear shortages in areas such as chip design, advanced packaging and testing, embedded firmware, RTOS implementation, device drivers, PCB design, and fabrication. These skills are critical for sectors like EMS, AI, and EVs, yet the supply of trained manpower remains limited.
To bridge this gap, industry–academia collaboration is essential. At VVDN, we work with universities and private institutes to establish learning centers and centres of excellence, and we run faculty development programs to equip professors with the latest knowledge.
Equally important is introducing electronics at the school level; through labs, gamified learning, and incentives for innovation, to spark curiosity early. Over time, this will help create a pipeline of talent familiar with technology fundamentals.
Filling the skill gap is a long-term effort that requires continuous, joint action from both industry and academia.
Q. What skills are critical for India’s semiconductor mission, and how aware are young people about opportunities in this sector?
Dr. Devraj Singh: The semiconductor industry is new but foundational, from smartphones to satellites, EVs to AI systems, semiconductors power every modern technology. India today stands at the threshold of a semiconductor revolution, with several large fabs and ATMP facilities coming up in Gujarat, Assam, and NCR, involving investments worth thousands of crores. These projects alone are expected to generate 3 lakh direct jobs and 10 lakh indirect jobs by 2030.
To realize this mission, skilled talent is the biggest requirement. It’s not just about high-level engineers but also technicians and operators in fabs, cleanrooms, packaging, assembly, and testing. The government’s ‘Chips to Startup’ program aims to train 85,000+ engineers in areas such as RTL design, embedded systems, and system-on-chip architectures, creating a strong base of design talent.
Across the value chain, key job roles include:
- Design: RTL engineers, analog layout, verification, IP developers.
- Manufacturing: Semiconductor manufacturing technicians, cleanroom operators, IC packaging engineers, die attach/wire bonding technicians.
- Servicing/Testing: Diagnostics, failure analysis, quality control specialists.
For entrepreneurs, opportunities lie in fabless chip design startups, testing labs, packaging services, and component supply chains.
Ultimately, the success of India’s semiconductor mission will depend on how effectively we train, reskill, and upskill our youth, with strong collaboration between government, academia, and industry. This journey is not just about making chips, it’s about building capacity, enabling innovation, and empowering the next generation.
Q. How is the ESSCI helping bridge the industry–academia gap through initiatives like apprenticeships, internships, and hands-on training?
Mr. Saleem Ahmed: At the ESSCI, our primary focus is to bridge the skill gap by working closely with industry partners across EMS and semiconductor clusters. A key challenge lies in providing skill-based training, as infrastructure is costly and limited. To address this, we collaborate with leading companies like Marvell Technologies, NXP, Applied Materials, and others, leveraging their facilities through programs such as the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), so trainees gain hands-on, industry-relevant experience.
We have developed qualifications for high-demand roles, especially in design; such as embedded full-stack, IoT analysts, software engineers, and hardware specialists. On the foundry and ATMP side, futuristic job roles like cleanroom operations, die-attach, wire bonding, failure analysis, and IC packaging are emerging, and we are working with partners to build training capacity in these areas.
At the school level, we run awareness programs to spark interest in semiconductors, while in higher education and training centers, we emphasize practical learning and advanced job roles. For EMS, which employs the largest workforce, we partner with major companies like Foxconn, Tata Electronics, and others to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled manpower.
In essence, our role is to stay aligned with industry needs, develop relevant qualifications, and expand training capacity so the electronics and semiconductor sectors have the skilled workforce they need for future growth.
Q. How can we make skilling in this sector truly aspirational for students across school, college, and research levels?
Mr. Subnesh Sharma: The key is to first answer ‘what’s in it for me?’, whether for students, job seekers, or employees. At the student level, we must spark curiosity through approaches in curriculum to make learning engaging and aspirational. For employees, fostering interdisciplinary knowledge sharing is vital, as it motivates continuous learning and adaptability, especially given the fast-changing industry where product lifecycles are just 15–18 months. Both industry and academia need to promote this culture to keep skills relevant and aspirational.
Dr. Devraj Singh: NEP 2020 has created a strong foundation for experiential learning by emphasizing not just knowledge, but also skills, behavior, and attitude. In electronics and semiconductors, this can be advanced through STEM education, DIY kits, and school-level training on logic gates, microcontrollers, and LED matrices. Initiatives like school-to-startup pipelines, chip design hackathons, and innovation challenges can nurture early talent. Equally important is teacher training, so educators stay updated with industry developments. At the higher level, institutions like IISc now offer world-class IC fabrication facilities, enabling students to gain hands-on experience. Programs such as Chips-to-Startup, Centers of Excellence, and industry–academia collaborations are further building a pipeline of future-ready talent for the semiconductor ecosystem.
Q. What key action points would you suggest, promoting STEM and encouraging women’s participation in this industry?
Mr. Subnesh Sharma: At our organization, women empowerment is a clear priority. In fact, over 70% of our 8,000-strong workforce are women, and we ensure proper facilities, including safe accommodations, to support them. This is not just about ease of business, it is part of our vision and mission. We actively highlight women-focused roles in our job postings and believe EMS is a sector where women can thrive and lead.
Also read: Level Up Your Skills with these Electronics Courses from NIELIT
Q. What key action areas should the industry focus on to bridge the skill gap and actively develop talent in this sector?
Saleem Ahmed: The core mandate of ESSCI is to ensure a steady supply of industry-ready, skilled manpower. Given the dynamic nature of electronics and semiconductors, training must constantly evolve. Today, beyond traditional classrooms and labs, we leverage online learning, virtual labs, AR/VR, and simulation-based training to provide near real-time, hands-on learning.
With technology advancing rapidly; from AI-enabled appliances to integrated electronics, the skills for manufacturing, repair, and maintenance are becoming more complex. To address this, we work closely with industry to ensure our training reflects every new development.
Aligned with NEP 2020, we are also making skilling aspirational through modular programs introduced in engineering colleges, community colleges, and universities. Our specialized modules include Embedded Systems and IoT, EMS, Digital Electrician, Mechatronics, IT Infrastructure, and Management Services, which are already in high demand.
As an SSC, co-promoted by six leading industry associations under NSDC, we truly operate for the industry, by the industry, and of the industry, fully committed to bridging the skill gap and preparing talent for the future.
