In a groundbreaking revelation, India’s demand for AI skills has eclipsed longstanding needs in engineering and IT, emerging as the toughest talent challenge for employers. ManpowerGroup’s latest report, unveiled Friday, highlights this trend amid a broader global skills revolution.
An overwhelming 82% of Indian businesses foresee hurdles in securing skilled workers by 2026—a figure that dwarfs the worldwide 72% average and has worsened year-over-year. AI literacy and model development lead the pack of elusive competencies, reflecting the tech boom’s unrelenting pace.
The study, surveying more than 39,000 employers in 41 countries, identifies AI-related abilities alongside engineering, sales/marketing, and manufacturing/production as globally scarce. India ranks first in talent scarcity, outpacing Slovakia, Greece, and Japan.
While global hiring pressures dipped slightly to 72%, the battle for AI prowess intensifies. Firms face dual pressures: advanced tech expertise and essential soft skills, fueling widespread mismatches.
‘India’s 82% shortage isn’t fleeting—it’s a fundamental labor market transformation,’ stated Sandeep Gulati, ManpowerGroup India and Middle East MD. Strategies vary: 37% prioritize employee upskilling, 35% explore untapped talent sources, with others enhancing work-life perks and remote options.
Sector-wise, automobiles face 94% shortage, followed by finance/insurance (85%) and IT/tech services (84%). This crisis demands urgent action—investments in training, policy reforms, and education overhauls—to harness AI’s potential and propel India’s digital economy forward.