Over 60% Indian firms focus on skilling workforce

New Delhi

More than 60% of companies in India are starting skilling programmes to prepare a strong future workforce, according to a report released on Wednesday by Aon, a global professional services firm. The report found that attracting and keeping talent, building future leaders, and creating an agile and strong workforce are the top priorities for Indian organisations over the next two to three years.

The report revealed that 61% of Indian firms have already started skills-based initiatives. This trend shows the increasing need for companies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing environment, where skills are evolving quickly and employee turnover is high.

Interestingly, preparing for AI disruptions and focusing on employee wellbeing ranked lower in current priorities but are expected to become more important in the future.

The study, which included over 135 organisations across the Asia-Pacific region, found that 57% of Indian respondents see skills as “critical” for business success — one of the highest in Asia. Puneet Swani from Aon said, “There is a strong need for future-ready skills rather than just traditional work experience to build a resilient workforce.”

Top challenges mentioned by Indian firms include identifying the right skills, budget limitations, measuring the success of programmes, and engaging employees despite time constraints.

A positive sign is that lack of leadership support was not seen as a big barrier, showing strong backing from top management for skill development efforts.

However, the report also noted that India is behind Australia and Malaysia in skill maturity, possibly because India’s large workforce makes the urgency feel lower.

Indian companies are now focusing more on future skills to stay strong and competitive in the coming years.