Apple’s manufacturing partners are reportedly competing for staff as they ramp up for “iPhone 13” production in the coming months.
Foxconn, Luxshare, and Lens Technology are said to be among the assemblers offering incentives — including larger bonuses — to attract new staff. Competition has increased following a decline in interest in the work.
Apple’s manufacturing partners have long had to bolster their workforces ahead of iPhone launches in an effort to meet the significant increase in demand for Cupertino’s latest handsets. And it seems that’s getting harder.
South China Morning Post reports that fewer people are interested in assembling Apple products, which has led to fierce competition for new staff among the company’s biggest suppliers.
Apple partners fight for new staff
“Apple suppliers in China, including the world’s largest iPhone factory, are raising their starter bonuses amid stiff competition for the shrinking pool of young people willing to do manufacturing jobs,” reads the report.
Foxconn, Apple’s largest assembly partner, has reportedly raised its bonus for new hires to 10,200 yuan ($1,578) if they stay for at least 90 days. Lens Technology has doubled its bonus from 5,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan ($1,544).
Luxshare is now offering 5,000 yuan ($772) — up from just 2,500 yuan — to as a referral bonus for new staff. There is also a top-up bonus of 3,800 yuan ($587) for returning workers who previously left the company.
Wages have also been increased in an effort to reverse declining demand for manufacturing jobs. In Zhengzhou, the minimum wage has more than doubled from 800 yuan to 1,900 yuan over the last decade.
Up to 150 million iPhone units on the way
Apple’s assemblers are said to be scrambling for staff in an effort to meet the company’s target of delivering 130 million to 150 million next-generation iPhone units in the second half of 2021 alone.
Mass-production is expected to begin in July and August before Apple makes its new iPhone lineup — believed to be called iPhone 13 — official this fall.
