Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: India’s workforce is facing a sharper disruption than the rest of the world’s — but is also adapting faster, with 86% reporting major workplace changes in the past year, far above global levels, and 89% actively building new skills to stay relevant.Exclusively accessed by TOI, the 2026 Human Progress Report by ETS (Educational Testing Service), a global non-profit that designs assessments like TOEFL and GRE and tracks workforce readiness trends, flags a defining shift. Job security is no longer about tenure, but adaptability. As AI reshapes work and roles evolve rapidly, Indian workers are leaning heavily into continuous learning and skill validation to stay competitive.Globally, 67% of workers reported at least one major workplace disruption, but India is among the hardest hit markets. Nearly 98% of workers here report facing at least one barrier to professional success, underscoring the pressure to constantly upskill.Yet, India also stands out for resilience. The country recorded a Human Progress Index score of 114.4, significantly above the global average of 96.7.The report shows Indian workers are actively future-proofing. Nearly nine in ten say they are developing new skills, while 90% believe verified credentials are essential as skill demands shift.“In the face of a changing job landscape, workers are quickly adapting,” said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. “Adaptability is becoming the new ‘must have’ skill.”A key driver of this shift is AI. Indian workers estimate that over 42% of their tasks involve AI tools, higher than the global average, and 78% say they use AI primarily to remain competitive, not by choice.Globally, the report points to a widening skills gap. Workers face a 19-point gap between the importance of AI skills and actual proficiency and 88% expect employers to support upskilling, but only 71% get it.The pressure is translating into anxiety. Another structural gap is emerging around access to credentials. While 73% of workers globally want skill credentials, only 45% have access, pointing to affordability and availability barriers.The broader global picture is one of continuous disruption. The report, based on over 32,000 respondents across 18 countries, notes that workers are “trying to aim at an unclear future,” even as they build skills in real time.
