India Skills Report 2026: employability rises to 56.35%, India becomes a global talent powerhouse
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India’s skilled workforce continues to grow stronger, with the latest India Skills Report (ISR) 2026 showing a steady rise in employability and global relevance.
The report, released by ETS in collaboration with CII, AICTE, AIU, and Taggd, highlights India’s progress toward a skill-based economy driven by AI, digital transformation, and flexible work models.
Now in its 13th edition, the report draws insights from over 100,000 candidates who took the Global Employability Test (GET) and responses from seven major industry sectors. The 2026 edition focuses on themes such as gig work, freelancing, AI-supported roles, remote employment, and entrepreneurship.
According to the findings, India’s overall employability rate has increased from 54.81% in 2025 to 56.35% in 2026. This growth continues a steady upward trend — from 46.2% in 2022 to 56.3% in 2026 — reflecting India’s strong transition toward a digital, skill-driven economy.
Nirmal Singh, CEO of Wheebox ETS and Chief Convenor of ISR, said that the emerging parallel workforce was reshaping the future of work. He added that India stood at a convergence of scale, skills, and technology, and that the coming decade would strengthen the country’s leadership in global talent mobility through modular, AI-integrated skilling and internationally recognised credentials.
The report highlights India’s growing dominance in the global AI landscape. The country now accounts for 16% of global AI talent, a number expected to rise to 1.25 million specialists by 2027. This surge is matched by rapid digital adoption — with over 90% of employees reportedly using generative AI tools at work, showing deep integration of technology across industries.
India’s gig and freelance economy is also expanding quickly. The gig workforce is projected to reach 23.5 million by 2030, driven by a 38% year-over-year increase in project-based hiring. The sectors driving this demand include technology, banking and finance (BFSI), manufacturing, renewable energy, and healthcare. The most in-demand skills are AI, data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
Among the most employable states in 2026 are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka — regions leading the way in creating job-ready talent.
ETS, a global leader in education and talent solutions, produces the India Skills Report to assess workforce readiness and track evolving job trends.