NEW DELHI: Nearly a decade of effort under India’s skilling mission is showing results, positioning the country as one of the most prepared job markets for future in-demand skills. The inaugural QS World Future Skills Index ranks India 27th overall, with placements in key parameters: 37th in Skills Fit, 26th in Academic Readiness, and 40th in Economic Transformation. The country ranks ranks second in the Future of Work category, trailing only the US.
This index evaluated over 190 countries, over 280 million job postings, more than five million employers’ skills demand, over 5,000 universities, and 17.5 million research papers, with India showing particular strength in integrating AI into its workforce. The QS analysis underscores India’s readiness to adopt AI, digital, and green technologies, placing it ahead of many countries. The World Economic Forum forecasts a 60% increase in AI skills and a 35% rise in digital skills by 2030, alongside the creation of 24 million green jobs, emphasising the need for workforce adaptability.
Job market maturity is often indicated by job listings in cutting-edge fields. In India, the high number of postings for AI, digital, and green skills reflects a business landscape ready for innovation. With a 59% active AI deployment rate among companies, India stands as a global leader in adopting new technologies, aligning with its 99.1 score in the Future of Work indicator.
The report says, “Despite global challenges, including a decline in venture capital (VC) funding, India remains the second-largest destination for VC in the Asia Pacific, reinforcing its robust investment ecosystem essential for innovation and future-ready job creation. The QS report also highlights the critical need for enhancements in India’s higher education system, particularly in equipping graduates with the skills most demanded by employers.”
Key recommendations for India include increasing tertiary education supply, adopting a modularised approach to higher education, fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, and focusing on green skills integration. Strengthening industry-academia collaboration and boosting research and development investment are pivotal to sustaining long-term growth and competitiveness.
Matteo Quacquarelli, vice president, strategy and analytics at QS, said, “India’s exceptional GDP growth, developing economy, and youth population position it uniquely on the global stage. However, to sustain this growth, it is crucial to equip the workforce with relevant skills through comprehensive higher education reforms.”
The report says as AI reshapes industries globally, India’s proactive alignment of educational curricula with industry needs ensures it remains at the forefront of economic transformation.
With sectors like renewable energy and healthcare experiencing growth, the focus on emerging technologies and sustainability is vital for India’s economic resilience and workforce evolution.
Quacquarelli added that between 2025 and 2030, India’s economy is expected to grow at an average of 6.5% annually, putting the country ahead of many competitor economies. “But as the economy continues to evolve, students, graduates, and workers need support to keep pace with changing skill requirements. The 2020 National Education Policy emphasised creating an adult education curriculum framework, and it’s important India’s higher education is fully leveraged to develop future-needed skills and competencies.”