Reimagining Manufacturing Workplaces: From Skill to Scale

Skill Gaps
Crossing the Next Frontier

India’s manufacturing sector is entering a new era of growth, poised to touch a market size of $1 trillion by 2025 - 26. Government initiatives such as Make in India, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and a surge in foreign direct investment are driving this expansion. Industries like automotive, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer durables, and electronics are spearheading this transformation, making manufacturing a key pillar of India’s economic resurgence.

Yet, this growth story faces a significant hurdle: the widening skill gap. Recent research highlights a shortage of over 30 million skilled professionals, particularly in roles that require advanced technical expertise and digital fluency. Traditional training approaches remain inadequate, and industryacademia collaborations are still evolving, leaving many graduates unprepared for real-world manufacturing challenges. With the rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies - AI, robotics, IoT, and smart factories - this gap is increasingly visible, impacting productivity, innovation, and competitiveness

Demographics and perceptions add another layer of complexity. Manufacturing continues to be male-dominated, with limited participation from women and underrepresented groups. Moreover, Gen Z talent often views the sector as routine, lacking creativity, and technologically stagnant - despite the reality of cutting-edge innovation happening on shop floors today. This image gap not only narrows the talent pipeline but also curbs diversity-driven innovation, which is crucial for longterm industry resilience.