India’s Textile & Apparel Sector to Need 14 Million More Skilled Workers by 2030: AMHSSC
India’s textile and apparel industry is expected to require nearly 14 million additional skilled workers by 2030, according to industry leaders and policymakers at the Industry Consultation Workshop organised by the Apparel, Made-Ups & Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council (AMHSSC) in New Delhi.
The workshop, held at Hyatt Regency, was inaugurated by Ms Manisha Sensarma, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in the presence of Shri Premal Udani, Chairman, AMHSSC, Shri Ashish Srivastava, CEO, AMHSSC, and Shri Lalit Thukral, Chairman, Noida Apparel Export Cluster, along with industry leaders, exporters, manufacturers, training partners and policymakers.
The discussions focused on preparing India’s workforce for the next phase of growth in the textile and apparel industry through stronger collaboration between government and industry.
Addressing the gathering, Ms Manisha Sensarma said industry participation is essential in identifying future skill requirements, developing industry-relevant curricula, establishing Centres of Excellence, upgrading Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the PM SETU initiative and building a flexible skilling ecosystem. She added that continuous upskilling in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies will be crucial for improving productivity and global competitiveness.
India’s textile and apparel sector currently employs around 46 million people, with employment projected to increase to nearly 60 million by 2030, creating demand for approximately 14 million additional skilled workers.
The domestic apparel market is also expected to witness strong expansion, with projections estimating it will reach USD 130-150 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10-12%, driven by rising consumer demand for fashion-led and occasion-based apparel.
Speaking at the workshop, Shri Premal Udani, Chairman, AMHSSC, said the apparel sector is India’s second-largest employer after agriculture and that new Free Trade Agreements will further increase demand for skilled manpower. He noted that the ongoing industry consultations and Skill Gap Study will help align skilling initiatives with evolving industry requirements.
Shri Lalit Thukral, Chairman, Noida Apparel Export Cluster, highlighted that manufacturers continue to face challenges in accessing trained and job-ready workers, particularly as factories adopt advanced machinery and stricter quality standards. He emphasised the need for reliable workforce data and stronger industry-skilling linkages.
Shri Ashish Srivastava, CEO, AMHSSC, said the India-UK Free Trade Agreement presents significant export opportunities for India’s textile and apparel industry. He added that initiatives such as Bharat Tex 2026 will strengthen India’s position as a global sourcing destination, making industry-aligned skilling increasingly important for sustainable growth and export competitiveness.
The workshop concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening industry-led skilling programmes, aligning training with emerging technologies and ensuring India’s workforce is equipped to support the sector’s future expansion.
