India’s aerospace, drones and space technology industry is projected to grow more than fivefold to USD 44 billion by 2033, creating over 200,000 new jobs, according to a new report by Adecco India. The expansion is expected to generate large-scale opportunities for engineers, researchers, data scientists and business professionals, as well as emerging roles in advanced and policy-linked domains.
Adecco said new-age positions such as space policy analysts, robotics engineers, avionics specialists and guidance, navigation and control (GNC) experts are becoming critical as India’s space ambitions accelerate. Driven by government reforms, rising private sector participation and global collaborations, the sector is rapidly transitioning from a research-led ecosystem to a commercially scaled industry with global reach.
Upcoming milestones — including the Gaganyaan crewed mission, India’s participation in the Axiom-4 International Space Station programme, and plans for a national space station — are expected to sharply increase talent demand across ISRO, public sector units and a growing number of space-tech start-ups.
India currently accounts for about 2 percent of the global space economy. The government has set a target of scaling this to USD 44 billion by 2033, including USD 11 billion in exports, which would raise India’s global share to 7–8 percent. Key enablers include the Indian Space Policy 2023, a base of more than 250 space start-ups, and a ₹1,000 crore venture capital fund under IN-SPACe to support private innovation.
According to Adecco, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad are expected to emerge as major talent hubs. Bengaluru alone is projected to account for over one-third of new roles, followed by Chennai and Pune. Niche positions in avionics, cryogenics, remote sensing and attitude determination and control systems are expected to command salary premiums of 20–30 percent over comparable technical roles.
The report notes that the sector is opening opportunities across four broad categories: technical engineering, scientific research, digital and data-driven functions, and managerial and business operations. Entry-level professionals can expect annual pay packages of ₹6–8 lakh, mid-level specialists ₹16–19 lakh, while highly specialised experts may earn ₹25–30 lakh or more, depending on skills and experience.
Adecco also highlighted the growing importance of diversity in India’s space workforce. Programmes such as WISE Fellowship, Vigyan Jyoti, the ISRO Young Scientist Programme (YUVIKA) and SAMRIDH are helping expand women’s participation in technical, research and entrepreneurial roles. The private sector is expected to play a key role in accelerating this shift.
Beyond formal qualifications, the report said future space professionals will require interdisciplinary skills, including cybersecurity for satellite systems, sustainable aerospace manufacturing, AI governance, international regulatory expertise and human-centred design for space missions.
Adecco said strengthening these capabilities will be essential if India is to meet its 2033 targets and position itself as a global hub for space technology talent and innovation.
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