News Brief
QS Index: India Ranks Second In Preparedness For Future Jobs, Critical Gaps In Skills And Infrastructure Highlighted
India's manufacturing sector is creating job opportunities. (SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/GettyImages)
India has secured the second position in the QS World Future Skills Index 2025 for its readiness in future job sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI) and green skills, trailing only the United States.
However, India’s overall ranking across all indicators is 25th, reflecting gaps in specific areas of economic transformation and workforce skills.
India’s Overall Performance
India’s overall rank of 25 places it in the “future skills contender” category, while nations like the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada are designated as “future skills pioneers.” This reflects the need for India to address critical gaps in skills and infrastructure to fully realise its potential in the global job market.
Key Indicators Evaluated
The QS World Future Skills Index evaluates countries on four broad indicators to determine readiness for future jobs.
Skills Fit: India scored 59.1, the lowest among the top 30 countries, highlighting a significant gap in the workforce’s ability to meet rapidly evolving job market demands. Employers across India have pointed to a lack of entrepreneurial and innovative mindsets, which limits the ability of graduates to adapt effectively.
Future of Work: Ranking second globally in this category, India is well-positioned to recruit talent for tomorrow’s jobs, particularly in AI, digital, and green skills. This indicator highlights India’s strength in preparing for technology-driven and sustainable industries, placing it ahead of advanced economies like Germany and Canada.
Academic Readiness: India scored 89.9 in academic readiness, ranking 26th globally. This measures how well the education system prepares graduates for future workforce requirements. While progress has been made, the alignment between academic curricula and employer needs remains an area for improvement.
Challenges in India’s Education System
The report highlights that India’s graduates struggle to keep pace with the rapidly changing skill requirements of the job market. Compared to Asia-Pacific counterparts, India scores lower in fostering an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset.
Employers consistently identify a mismatch between workforce skills and industry demands, which could hinder economic growth if unaddressed.
Recommendations for Improvement
To overcome these challenges, the report emphasises the need for a focused strategy integrating government policy and higher education reforms.
Continuous and lifelong reskilling programs must be prioritised to ensure that workers remain relevant and productive.
Enhancing innovation capacity and improving the alignment between academic readiness and industry needs will be essential for India to bridge its skill gap and strengthen its global competitiveness.
