According to reports, leather production units in southern India are struggling to find workers. Officials see this shortage as a real threat to production, particularly as foreign companies are increasingly looking for cost-effective alternative production bases to China.

There is a notable decline in young workers in the sector in favour of leading brands. The greatest lack can be seen among pattern makers and supervisors in the leather sector at a time when the industry is experiencing increasingly higher demand.

Many production units are being forced to look for workers from outside the region, some even from northern India. Officials suggest this is due to a lack of education and training within the industry. As demand for leather footwear grows, this is one of the areas the leather sector should focus on if it is to achieve its export potential.