India is witnessing a tectonic shift in its manufacturing prospects. With global supply chains being reshaped by geopolitical factors—such as the U.S.–China trade war, Trump-era tariffs, and the current instability in Bangladesh—India is emerging as a preferred destination for global manufacturers.
This shift is not limited to textiles. Engineering goods, precision components, automobile ancillaries, and a wide range of industrial commodities are now being considered for manufacturing in India. Coimbatore, Tirupur, Pune, Rajkot, and several other cities are becoming critical nodes in this new global supply framework.
But amidst this surge in interest and opportunity, a critical question arises:
Are we prepared with the human capital to support this growth?
Labour: The Silent Limiting Factor
While India has been long celebrated for its demographic dividend, the ground reality is sobering. In manufacturing hubs like Coimbatore and Tirupur, there is growing concern over an acute shortage of reliable manpower.
According to The Economic Times (June 7, 2024), more than 60,000 migrant workers from North India have returned to their home states in recent months, creating a nearly 20% gap in the available workforce in Tirupur alone.
This isn’t a temporary post-election dip. The Economic Times (February 18, 2025) reports that many workers have chosen not to return, citing the rising development of their native states—Uttar Pradesh and Bihar—as a key factor. Better roads, local job schemes, and a renewed sense of regional pride are making home more attractive than ever before.
A New Kind of Skill Gap
While infrastructure, technology, and capital investments are actively being addressed across industries, the labour issue is turning out to be a more complex challenge.
Even as engineering colleges and polytechnics continue to produce thousands of graduates each year, manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit individuals who are job-ready. According to The Economic Times (October 30, 2024), employers often encounter young professionals who possess qualifications on paper but lack the orientation and temperament to perform effectively in an industrial setting.
The issue is not merely about technical knowledge. A deeper attitudinal gap has emerged. While a small segment of youth display clarity, drive, and willingness to learn, many others appear to be drifting without direction. They imagine themselves to be part of a privileged class without realizing the demands of real-world work environments, often expecting the system to accommodate them rather than preparing to contribute meaningfully.
Building a Productive Ecosystem
The real opportunity lies in reimagining the industrial ecosystem—one that doesn’t just rely on transactional hiring but consciously builds a workplace culture of purpose, discipline, and pride.
To stay future-ready, industries must focus on creating manpower pipelines and recruitment funnels that provide a steady flow of aligned, motivated individuals.
Beyond hiring, retention and productivity require a deeper shift. Engagement, clarity of role, regular feedback, and emotional alignment with the organization’s vision are no longer optional—they are essential.
India may well become the world’s next manufacturing powerhouse, not just for textiles but for engineering components, electronics, EVs, and a range of global commodities.
But the defining variable in this journey will not be the machines we install.
It will be the people we build.
The world is ready to buy from India.
The question is—are we ready to build a workforce that can consistently deliver?
