On Monday, February 23, 2026, new data shared with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) confirmed that the Apple ecosystem in India has officially created over 2.5 lakh (250,000) direct jobs since the launch of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in August 2021.
This milestone makes Apple the largest single creator of blue-collar jobs in India’s electronics sector, achieving the government’s five-year employment target nearly a year ahead of the PLI scheme’s conclusion in March 2026.
The “Job Engine” Breakdown
The 2.5 lakh direct jobs are distributed across Apple’s primary contract manufacturers and a rapidly expanding network of local component suppliers.
- Anchor Manufacturers (1.4 Lakh Jobs):
- Tata Group: Now the largest employer in the ecosystem, with approximately 72,000 employees across its three iPhone facilities.
- Foxconn: Operates two major plants (including the massive “iPhone City” in Devanahalli, Karnataka) employing over 70,000 people.
- Component Ecosystem (1.1 Lakh Jobs):
- A network of 45 global and local suppliers—including Jabil, Salcomp, Motherson, and over 30 Indian MSMEs—now provides the remaining workforce. These firms produce everything from enclosures and chargers to complex PCBA modules.
A Revolution for the Female Workforce
One of the most significant aspects of Apple’s Indian expansion is its impact on gender diversity and social mobility.
- 70% Female Representation: An estimated 1.75 lakh of these direct jobs are held by women.
- First-Time Earners: The majority of the workforce consists of young women aged 19–24 who are entering the formal economy for the first time.
- Industrial Housing: To support this scale, the Tamil Nadu government recently inaugurated a ₹706 crore housing complex in Sriperumbudur specifically for the 18,720 women working at the Foxconn facility.
The Multiplier Effect: 6 Lakh Total Jobs
While “direct” jobs refer to those on the factory floor, the “Apple Effect” extends much further into the economy.
| Category | Estimated Jobs (Feb 2026) |
| Direct Manufacturing | 250,000 |
| Indirect (Logistics/Services) | 350,000–400,000 (Based on a 1:3 multiplier) |
| iOS App Economy | 1,000,000+ (Developers and related roles) |
| Total Ecosystem Impact | ~1.6 Million Jobs |
The Road Ahead: Shift to “High-Value” Jobs
As the PLI 1.0 era ends in March 2026, the focus is shifting from basic assembly to high-value engineering:
- R&D Expansion: Apple has doubled its corporate headcount in India to nearly 3,000, with new R&D centers in Bengaluru and Hyderabad focused on “Apple Intelligence” and chip design.
- Product Trials: For the first time, Indian facilities are handling the “New Product Introduction” (NPI) phase for flagship models, moving India beyond being just a secondary manufacturing site.
