India's battery industry set to generate up to 2M jobs by FY30: Adecco India

The country's battery industry is expected to generate 1.5 million to 2 million jobs by 2029-30 as it enters its most capital- and employment-intensive phase, evolving from an assembly-and import-dependent sector into a fully integrated cell-to-recycling industrial ecosystem, talent company Adecco India said.

India's battery industry is moving from importing and assembling lithium-ion cells to manufacturing batteries domestically, spanning across cells, complete battery packs, and recycling, Adecco India Director and Head of General Staffing Deepesh Gupta told PTI.

The industry could create 1.5 million to 2 million jobs by 2030, with about 25% direct jobs and 75% indirect jobs. Hiring is expected to grow by 25-30% annually, according to Adecco India.

This insight about the battery industry by Adecco India is based on inputs from over 30 of its client based in the country.

Further, Adecco India revealed that recruitment in the industry will tilt toward more skilled professionals in electro chemistry, materials science, battery engineering, manufacturing, and recycling.

"With battery manufacturing capacity currently at around 60 GWh and expected to approach 100 GWh by the end of 2026, along with upcoming gigafactory investments in Gujarat, Karnataka, Haryana and Telangana, the sector is moving beyond assembly and building the depth of a full industrial ecosystem," said Gupta.

Catalysing the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', this localisation drive, supported by the Critical Minerals Mission and India's participation in the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework, will reduce the country's reliance on imported cells and refined materials, while creating employment opportunities across established manufacturing hubs and emerging tier II and III industrial corridors, he added.

Lithium battery manufacturing is expected to contribute 50-60% of India's projected green manufacturing jobs by 2030, with specialised battery engineering talent commanding salary premiums of up to 35-40% over conventional manufacturing and electronics roles.

India's battery manufacturing is now translating into plant-level capacity. Under the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells, the government has committed Rs 18,100 crore to develop 50 GWh of domestic ACC manufacturing capacity, with an additional 5 GWh reserved for niche chemistries.

Gigafactory clusters continue to be the primary employment engine for the sector, concentrated in Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat and Haryana.