The use of AI and automation is increasing rapidly in India, but the employees of companies are still not fully prepared for this change. The new SHRM India Skills Intelligence Report 2026 claims that jobs like back office, data and customer service may have the biggest impact in the coming three years. According to the report, about 45 percent of the companies are struggling with the lack of AI and digital skills. Regarding this, experts say that if the work on skill development is not done in time, it may pose a challenge to lakhs of employees.
The biggest threat to back office and data roles
According to SHRM India Skill Intelligence Report 2026, the biggest impact of AI can be seen on back office and data related jobs. The report says that about 28 percent of back office roles and 24 percent of data and reporting jobs may be affected in the next three years. Apart from this, AI based automation can also increase rapidly in about 21 percent customer service jobs. More than 198 senior HR and learning leaders were interviewed for the report. SHRM President Johnny C Taylor Jr. said that India has the youngest workforce in the world, so the country has a huge opportunity to become the digital talent capital of the future.
Skill training in India is still very weak
The most worrying thing in the report is India’s low formal training rate. According to the report, only 2.3 percent of employees in India get formal training. Whereas in UK this figure has reached 68 percent, in Germany 75 percent and in South Korea 96 percent. The report also revealed that companies are still spending more money on wrong training models. Nearly 60 percent of the budget is being spent on digital courses and classroom training, while only 3 percent is being invested in practical and hands-on learning. Only 34 percent of companies accurately measure the outcomes of their skilling programs.
Many difficulties faced by companies in adopting AI
According to the report, the pace of AI adoption in India is slow not because of technology but because of concerns related to leadership and investment. About 54 percent of the companies admitted that they still have medium or low level of seriousness regarding AI investment. Whereas 44 percent companies cited leadership and ROI i.e. return on investment as the biggest obstacles. The report also raises concerns over the lack of ESG and green skills. About 41 percent of the companies admitted that they have a severe shortage of skills related to sustainability. Achal Khanna, CEO of SHRM APAC and MENA, said that India is currently going through a very important phase of workforce transformation and the future will belong to only those companies which will be able to teach new skills to the employees in time.
Also read: AI and copyright laws are changing around the world, know what changed from India to Europe
Leave a Reply