Rajasthan’s gem and jewellery industry is facing a critical labour shortage, despite rising exports. In FY23, the state exported gems and jewellery worth ₹9,470 crore, increasing to ₹11,180 crore in FY24. Experts warn that the workforce gap could stall growth.
China has overtaken India in gemstone manufacturing due to advanced technology and lower labour costs, according to Kailash Mittal, president of the Sarafa Traders Committee.
This shift has left many Rajasthan artisans jobless. While Jaipur traders can adopt machinery, they prefer hand-cutting to maintain quality, limiting competitiveness.
Jewellery businessman Vikas Kothari highlighted that millions of workers in the industry lack recognition as labourers, excluding them from government welfare schemes.
