85% of Indian Professionals Plan to Upskill in 2025, Says Great Learning Report
According to Great Learning’s ‘Upskilling Trends Report 2024-25,’ 85% of professionals in India plan to invest in upskilling initiatives in the fiscal year 2025 (FY25). The report highlights a decline in job retention confidence among Indian professionals, dropping to 62% from 71% the previous year. This is largely due to tech disruptions and challenging economic conditions.
Entry-level professionals are the most uncertain, with only 29% confident in retaining their jobs in FY25. This trend is reflected in broader industry data, such as the Naukri JobSpeak Index, which reported an 11% year-over-year drop in job openings in March 2024.
Upskilling is crucial for seasoned professionals, with 92% of those with over 17 years of experience recognizing its importance. Freshers and entry-level professionals are also increasingly aware of the need to upgrade their skills, with 83% of freshers intending to upskill, an 8% increase from FY24.
Data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) are the top domains for upskilling among Indian professionals, followed by software development and digital marketing. These fields are critical for future technological innovation and are top areas where enterprises plan to recruit in FY25.
Geographically, Bangalore and Chennai lead the upskilling charge, with 87% of professionals in these cities planning to invest in upskilling in FY25. Sector-wise, professionals from manufacturing, engineering, capital goods, and BFSI show the highest intent to upskill.
The primary motivation for upskilling is career growth within their current organization (39%), followed by personal interest (17%) and fear of skills becoming outdated (15%). Meeting employer expectations is another significant motivator (13%).
Despite the strong intent to upskill, professionals face challenges such as being too busy with work (34%), financial constraints (19%), and family commitments (14%).
Hari Krishnan Nair, co-founder of Great Learning, emphasized the importance of continuous learning in today’s volatile economic environment. He said, “Continuous learning and upskilling are crucial to adapt and evolve. It is encouraging to see professionals adopting a proactive approach to navigate this disruption by acquiring specialized skills to meet evolving employer demands.”
He added, “Government initiatives aimed at promoting skill development have further amplified this awareness. Our objective is to help learners, professionals, and companies with valuable insights, empowering them to strategize effectively for FY25.”
