Indian workforce embraces AI learning for career growth: ETS report 2025

The 2025 ETS Human Progress Report (HPR) revealed that nearly 80% of Indians believe using AI technologies to learn new skills will enhance their career prospects.

The report highlights that growing middle-income economies like China, Vietnam, India, and Nigeria show greater interest in AI experimentation and skill development.

This suggests their workforces are more future-ready than those in more economically developed regions such as North America and Western Europe.

The study also found that 86% of participants believe certification increases their chances of securing a better or higher-paying job, thereby advancing their careers.

Over 87% of Nigerians, 86% of Vietnamese, 85% of Indonesians, 84% of UAE citizens, 84% of Indians, 83% of Chinese, 82% of Kenyans, and 78% of Saudis agreed that skill development enhances career paths.

The evolving nature of education and job advancement is examined in the 2025 ETS HPR.

The 2025 HPR is based on the opinions of around 18,000 people in 18 different countries.

People are seeking more than just skill development; they want evidence to back up their claims.

According to the report, around 74% of workers express a desire to compare their abilities with others in their field.

College graduates, early- and mid-career professionals, technical workers, and residents of developing countries in Asia and Africa show particular interest in person-to-person (P2P) industry benchmarking.

About 85% of Indian respondents, 82% of Vietnamese respondents, 84% of Chinese respondents, and 82% of Indonesian respondents are eager to benchmark their professions.

Approximately 68% of respondents believe skill development should be grounded in real-world assessments of individuals' capabilities, considering their diverse educational, professional, and social experiences.

This perspective is more prevalent among women, with 71% agreeing compared to 65% of men. In India, 63% of men and 64% of women share the view that skill development should be based on real-world assessments.

India recorded a Human Progress Index of 85.8, showing a year-on-year increase of 5.6.

"In 2025, success belongs to those who can adapt. The second annual ETS Human Progress Report reflects a world in transition. The ability to adapt, to be resilient, and to collaborate effectively is no longer a preference in the world of work—it’s a necessity,” said Amit Sevak, Chief Executive Officer, ETS.

“Once considered soft or secondary, these are now the power skills—fueling progress, propelling individuals and organizations to not only navigate change but to shape it," Sevak added.

There is still a lot of hope for educational and skill-building possibilities worldwide. 64% of respondents are similarly optimistic about options for further education, and 65% of respondents are confident in the likelihood of upskilling within the next 10 years.