India has been recognised as one of the best-prepared countries for future job skills, especially in fields like artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, and green industries. This recognition comes from the first-ever QS World Future Skills Index, published by the UK-based higher education firm QS. The index measures how ready countries are to meet the changing demands of the global job market.

India is ranked 25th overall and is classified as a ‘future skills contender’ in the index. It performs exceptionally well in the ‘future of work’ category, scoring 99.1, the second-highest in the world, just behind the United States, which has a perfect score of 100. This strong performance is supported by Silicon Valley and universities that adapt their curriculums to current needs. Based on their performance, economies are divided into four groups by the QS World Future Skills Index: aspiring, contender, pioneer, and practitioner. India's standing as a "contender" is indicative of its advancements in creating skills that are ready for the future. 

Four primary indicators were used by the index to evaluate nations:

> Skills fit (alignment between education systems and industry requirements),

> Academic readiness (capacity of education systems to deliver forward-looking skills),

> Future of work (job market’s ability to recruit for in-demand skills), and

> Economic transformation (readiness for skills-driven economic growth). 

The rankings were created by analysing 17.5 million research papers, 500,000 universities, 280 million job advertisements, five million employer skill requirements and more than 190 nations. India's impressive performance was a result of several variables, including its strong investment ecosystem that encourages innovation, its considerable preparedness to incorporate AI into the workforce, and its ability to hire personnel for digital roles in conjunction with Mexico.  The report points out several key challenges, such as a gap between what academic curricula offer and the skills needed by industries in areas like AI, green technologies, and digital skills. There is also limited access to higher education for India’s growing youth population. The focus on sustainability in both education and industry is insufficient, and spending on research and development is low—only 0.6% of GDP, compared to the global average of 2.7%.

India also ranks poorly when it comes to innovation and sustainability, meaning it is falling behind in creating solutions for the future and adopting sustainable practices. This shows that there are difficulties in aligning research and industry efforts with emerging global trends like green technologies and environmental sustainability. The report suggests that to tackle these challenges, we should increase access to higher education, particularly in fields that require specialised skills, to make the most of India’s large youth population.

Offering flexible, modular education options could make it easier for more people to enter and stay aligned with industry demands. Additionally, programs focused on reskilling and upskilling, supported by policies like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and ULLAS (Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society), are essential for continuous learning and improvement. 

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India's ranking in the QS World Future Skills Index. "This is heartening to see! Over the last decade, our government has worked on strengthening our youth by equipping them with skills that enable them to become self-reliant and create wealth. We have also leveraged the power of technology to make India a hub for innovation and enterprise. The insights from the QS World Future Skills Index are valuable as we move further on this journey towards prosperity and youth empowerment," PM Modi said in a post on X. A National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) study revealed a large gap in the number of skilled workers in September last year. The demand for skilled workers was 103 million, while the current supply was only 74 million. 

This shows a clear need for focused training and skill development in various sectors.“The shift in India’s economic profile is a major contributing factor. Rapidly growing sectors like healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing, green jobs, sustainability, waste management, the circular economy, food processing, drone technology, and AI demand specialised skills currently in limited supply,” the report said. The World Economic Forum shared in November last year that only a small portion of India’s workforce is ready for employment.

Out of the 13 million people joining the workforce every year, only 25% of management professionals, 20% of engineers and 10% of graduates are considered employable. Additionally, the International Labour Organization's (ILO) 2023 Global Skills Gap Measurement Report showed that 47% of Indian workers, including 62% of women, are not fully qualified for their jobs.