India's AI Ambitions Threatened by Looming Skill Gap

India seeks to become a global AI talent hub but faces a skill gap, with over one million skilled professionals needed by 2027. The sector's growth demands urgent reskilling and upskilling. Bain & Company's report emphasizes the challenge and opportunity to address the shortfall in AI expertise.

India is on the path to establishing itself as a global hub for AI talent; however, a gap in skills may impede this ambition. A recent study by Bain & Company warns that the country could face a shortage of more than a million skilled professionals in the AI sector by 2027.

The report stresses the necessity for India to focus on reskilling and upskilling its workforce to align with the rising demand for AI expertise. By 2027, AI job openings are anticipated to be 1.5 to 2 times the current talent availability, according to Saikat Banerjee, a partner at Bain & Company.

While AI-related job postings have surged by 21% annually since 2019, the supply of qualified professionals has not kept pace, creating a widening talent gap that threatens the industry's growth. A multi-faceted approach to nurturing AI talent, including innovative hiring and continual skills development, is essential to overcome this challenge.

(With inputs from agencies.)