By Nilesh Ranpura, Sr. Director Engineering, eInfochips
Semiconductor industry market
The global semiconductor industry is on the path to a decade of robust growth, with projections suggesting it will reach a trillion-dollar valuation by 2030. As digital technology becomes more central to our lives, demand for semiconductors has surged, with sales alone growing by over 20% to nearly $600 billion.
By 2030, the industry could become a $1 trillion market, driven by trends like remote work, AI, and the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. This growth will be incremental and will focus on sectors such as wired communication, consumer electronics, automotive, wireless communication, computing and data storage, and industrial electronics.
Semiconductor industry in last 20 years
Despite two major downturns (2002 – dot com and 2009 finance), and one small downturn (2020 COVID-19), the semiconductor economy has seen linear growth that has been both steady and omni-directional (across arts, innovation, consumers). That this growth has come despite the numerous geopolitical, economic, and technological challenges is testament to the resilience of the sector. Sector had 20,000 million parts as supply chain matrix in 2002 and it has increased to 100,000 million parts in 2024. Similar linear and non-linear growth seen in semiconductor revenue, designs, and parts, making it one of the most successful. The market is expected to reach $2000 billion by 2032 from the current stage of $680 billion, almost surpassing the growth rate of the crude oil market.
The talent landscape in India’s semiconductor industry
India’s semiconductor workforce is expected to face a significant shortage. By 2027, projections indicate a shortfall of 250,000 to 300,000 skilled professionals across the production process—from R&D and design to manufacturing and assembly-testing-packaging (ATP). The need for engineers with expertise in design, verification, DFT (Design for Test), and FPGA design is expected to be especially high, with Deloitte estimating that the industry will require over a million skilled workers, globally, by 2030.
Meeting this demand will require a proactive approach to skilling and talent development, ensuring workers are prepared to handle the complex demands of the semiconductor industry.
Skilling, training, and workforce development:
To develop a skilled workforce for India’s semiconductor industry, four main educational and training pathways have been established:
- Postgraduate programs: Institutions such as IITs, NITs, IISC, and BITS, along with private universities like NU, PDEU, DDU, GTU, MUJ, GUNI, and PU, offer MTech programs in VLSI, Microelectronics, and related fields to cultivate specialised knowledge.
- Undergraduate programs: These institutions also provide undergraduate degrees and minors in VLSI, creating a solid foundation in semiconductor technologies.
- Private finishing schools: Institutes like ChipEdge, EITRA, Saptarshi, Maven Silicon, VLSIGuru, and Neochip deliver hands-on training in specific areas, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs.
- Certification courses: Universities also offer short-term (1-6 months) certification programs focused on design verification, DFT, and physical design, allowing professionals to rapidly acquire targeted skills and knowledge.
The staircase approach to skill development
Beyond these structured programs, a “staircase” approach to talent development encourages cross-skilling, allowing individuals with adjacent skills to transition into semiconductor roles even if they lack direct industry experience. For instance:
- C-programmers and IT engineers may adapt well to functional verification roles.
- Embedded programmers can be trained for ASIC verification or FPGA roles.
- Professionals experienced in PCB design can transition to physical design with focused training.
- Professors with engineering experience can upskill themselves in design, verification, and DFT.
The future of semiconductor talent development in India:
As technology advances in fields like 5G, IoT, AI, and VR, the semiconductor industry’s need for skilled talent will only grow. Keeping pace with these developments requires a workforce that is not just technically capable but also adaptable to the rapid changes driving the sector.
Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on sustainable manufacturing practices. Future talent will need to be skilled in technology and be able to integrate environmental considerations into semiconductor design and production.
Conclusion
India’s semiconductor industry is at a crucial stage, requiring strategic investments in education, upskilling, and workforce development to meet future demand. By adopting a comprehensive approach to talent development, the semiconductor sector can build a workforce capable of driving innovation and resilience for years to come.
