NEW DELHI: India is headed towards becoming an AI global hub for talent, however, its progress is threatened by a looming skills gap. Global consultancy firm Bain & Company warn that the country could face a shortfall of more than a million skilled AI professionals by 2027 unless urgent steps are taken to upskill the workforce.
The report highlights the need for India to reskill a significant portion of its existing talent base to keep up with the growing demand for AI expertise.
“India has a unique opportunity to position itself as a global AI talent hub. However, by 2027, the job openings in AI are expected to be 1.5–2x of the talent availability. The challenge — and opportunity — lies in reskilling and upskilling a significant portion of the existing talent base on emerging technology tools and skillsets,” said Saikat Banerjee, partner and leader of Bain & Company’s AI, insights, and solutions practice in India.
The firm’s report revealed that by 2027, AI-related job openings in India could surpass 2.3 million, while the talent pool is expected to grow to around 1.2 million. This leaves a gap of over a million skilled workers, raising concerns over the need for large-scale reskilling efforts.
Since 2019, AI-related job postings in India have surged by 21 per cent annually, with salaries for these roles rising by 11 per cent each year. However, despite the growing demand and attractive pay, the supply of qualified AI professionals has not kept pace.
This widening gap could obstruct AI adoption across industries, news agency PTI reported.
Business leaders around the world have identified a lack of in-house AI expertise as a key obstacle to implementing generative AI technologies. This talent shortage is expected to persist until at least 2027, impacting markets worldwide to varying degrees.
To bridge the gap, experts stress that companies must rethink their hiring strategies and prioritise continuous upskilling of their workforce.
“The AI talent shortage is a significant challenge, but not invincible. Addressing it requires a fundamental shift in how businesses attract, develop, and retain AI talent,” said Banerjee.
