Hiring AI-skilled talent priority for more than 95% employers in India: AWS research

AI-skilled talent is a priority for more than nine in ten (96%) employers in India, but 79% struggle to find the AI talent they need, reveals new research by Amazon Web Services (AWS), which highlights a looming artificial intelligence skills gap in the country.

"This report shows that the future of work demands a workforce equipped with AI proficiency to navigate emerging challenges and harness opportunities for sustainable and equitable economic growth and development as well as inclusive innovation," says Dr. Rupa Chanda, Director of Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

The study surveyed 1,600 workers and 500 employers in India to understand emerging AI usage trends and skilling needs in workplaces. The report reveals that almost all employers (99%) envision their companies becoming AI-driven organisations by 2028.

Here are the key insights from the report:

• 97% of workers expect their AI skills to have a positive impact on their careers, including increased job efficiency and career advancement.
• 95% of workers indicated a keen interest in developing AI skills to accelerate their careers, and this interest transcends generations.
• 95% of Gen Z, 96% of Millennials, and 93% of Gen X workers want to acquire AI skills, while 90% of baby boomers would enrol in an AI upskilling course if offered.
• 98% of surveyed employers and workers expect to use generative AI tools on the job within the next five years
• Surveyed employers expect their organisation's productivity to increase by 68% as AI technology automates repetitive tasks (71%), encourages learning of new skills (68%), and improves workflow and outcomes (64%).
• Workers believe AI could raise their efficiency by as much as 66%.
• Workers with AI skills and expertise could see salary hikes of over 54%, with workers in IT (65%), and research and development (62%) enjoying the highest pay increases.

"AI skills are becoming paramount for our customers to innovate and stay competitive. AWS and Wipro are collaborating to train AWS skilled associates at Wipro in generative AI services," said Ramesh Pai, Vice President, AWS Business Unit Head, Wipro Technologies.