India's textile & apparel sector to need 14 million more skilled workers by 2030: AMHSSC

India's textile and apparel industry will require a significantly larger pool of skilled manpower over the coming decade to fully capitalise on emerging domestic and global opportunities, industry leaders and policymakers said at the Industry Consultation Workshop organised by the Apparel, Made-Ups & Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council (AMHSSC) at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi on Thursday.

The workshop was inaugurated by Ms Manisha Sensarma, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, in the presence of Shri Premal Udani, Chairman, AMHSSC, Shri Ashish Srivastava, CEO, AMHSSC, Shri Lalit Thukral, Chairman, Noida Apparel Export Cluster along with other industry veterans. The event brought together industry leaders, exporters, manufacturers, training partners and policymakers to deliberate on the future skill requirements of India's rapidly evolving textile and apparel ecosystem.

Addressing the gathering, Ms Manisha Sensarma, Senior Economic Advisor, MSDE said that the future of India's workforce depends on stronger partnerships between government and industry. Industry must play a central role in identifying skill requirements, developing curriculum, establishing Centres of Excellence, upgrading ITIs through the PM SETU initiative, and shaping a flexible skilling ecosystem that responds to changing market demands. Together, we can create a workforce that is globally competitive and industry-ready. Continuous upskilling in AI and emerging technologies will be essential to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

The discussion also focused on the domestic opportunity. India's textile and apparel sector currently provides employment to nearly 46 million people. Government and industry projections estimate that employment could rise to around 60 million by 2030, creating demand for nearly 14 million additional skilled workers over the decade.

The domestic apparel market is also witnessing robust growth. With consumers increasingly seeking differentiated products across multiple occasions and placing greater emphasis on fashion trends and value, India's apparel market is projected to reach USD 130-150 billion by 2030, growing at a 10-12 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

Speaking at the workshop, Shri Premal Udani, Chairman, AMHSSC said the apparel sector is India's second-largest employer after agriculture, and with new Free Trade Agreements creating fresh opportunities, the demand for skilled workers is set to rise significantly. Our industry consultations and Skill Gap Study will help align skilling efforts with industry needs, ensuring a steady pipeline of productive and job-ready talent.”

Shri Lalit Thukral, Chairman, Noida Apparel Export Cluster, said the foremost challenge for manufacturers today is access to trained, job-ready workers, particularly as factories adopt new machinery and higher quality standards. Reliable workforce data and a direct pipeline to skilled talent, he added, would be critical as new trade agreements open export markets.

Shri Ashish Srivastava, CEO, AMHSSC, said, “The India-UK Free Trade Agreement marks a significant milestone for India's textile and apparel industry, opening new export opportunities and enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian manufacturers. As the sector expands into new international markets, the demand for a highly skilled workforce will grow correspondingly. Initiatives such as Bharat Tex 2026 will further position India as a preferred global sourcing destination, making industry-aligned skilling essential to support sustainable growth and export competitiveness.”

The workshop concluded with a commitment from stakeholders to strengthen industry-led skilling initiatives, align training programmes with emerging technologies and market needs, and prepare India's workforce to power the next phase of growth in the textile and apparel sector.