India can address the global semiconductor industry’s talent shortage of around one million professionals and is ready to set up world-class design facilities, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on June 19, 2026. He was speaking at an event at Software Technology Parks of India in Patna.
Vaishnaw said the global semiconductor industry, currently valued at around $800 billion, is projected to cross $1 trillion within the next year and to generate one million new jobs worldwide by 2032. He said India should approach the opportunity from two angles, design and manufacturing.
“There’s a talent shortage of one million in the semiconductor industry. Filling this one million shortage is an opportunity for us,” Vaishnaw said.
The figure aligns with industry estimates. Trade body SEMI has projected that roughly one million additional skilled workers will be needed in the sector by 2030. India produces a large annual pool of engineering graduates, placing it to supply talent at scale, though retention remains a concern as skilled professionals are drawn to mature ecosystems abroad.
The opportunity is already visible in domestic projects. Tata Electronics’ Assam chip packaging plant is expected to generate roughly 15,000 direct jobs, and state governments, including Delhi, have begun drafting dedicated semiconductor policies aimed at chip design roles.
