Apple’s Bengaluru iPhone factory hires 30,000 workers, most of them young women

Apple

Apple’s manufacturing push in India has reached a major milestone. According to a report by The Economic Times (ET), its new iPhone assembly factory near Bengaluru has hired close to 30,000 workers in just eight to nine months, making it the fastest hiring ramp-up seen at any factory in India so far. Nearly 80 percent of the workforce consists of young women, many of whom are entering formal employment for the first time.

The factory, located in Devanahalli on the outskirts of Bengaluru, is operated by Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, Apple’s largest contract manufacturing partner. Spread across around 300 acres, the facility began testing production earlier this year with iPhone 16 models and has now moved on to assembling the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max, ET reported.

More than 80 percent of the devices made at the plant are exported, highlighting India’s growing role in Apple’s global supply chain. People familiar with the development told ET that once the factory reaches peak production next year, it could employ as many as 50,000 workers, potentially making it the country’s largest factory in terms of both output and employment.

The workforce is dominated by women aged 19 to 24, many of them high school or polytechnic graduates. Several workers have migrated from neighbouring states to take up jobs at the plant. To support them, Foxconn has built six large dormitories, some of which are already operational, with more under construction. Workers are provided free accommodation, subsidised meals, and earn an average salary of around ₹18,000 per month, which ET noted is among the highest for women in blue-collar roles.

Over time, the Devanahalli campus is expected to develop into a mini township with residential facilities, medical centres, schools, and entertainment options within the premises. The production floor alone spans nearly 250,000 square feet, and the facility is expected to eventually house up to a dozen iPhone assembly lines, up from about four currently.

Foxconn is investing close to Rs 20,000 crore in the Bengaluru project, which is set to surpass its existing iPhone manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu that currently employs around 41,000 workers. Government officials cited by ET have described the factory as a key success story for India’s manufacturing push and the production-linked incentive scheme.

As Apple continues to shift more iPhone production out of China amid geopolitical uncertainty, India has emerged as a critical hub. Today, all iPhone models are assembled in India from the start of production and exported globally, marking a significant change from just a few years ago.