AI in India now handles 37% of entry-level tasks, outpacing global adoption rates

Over one-third of entry-level tasks in India done by AI, finds Cognizant-Pearson study

AI is now performing nearly 37% of entry-level tasks in India, exceeding the global average. HR leaders anticipate entry-level roles will evolve to supervising AI systems within five years, with AI also expected to create new job categories. Organizations are increasingly focusing on AI skills for all roles, enabling employees to concentrate on higher-value, strategic responsibilities. New Delhi: Over one-third, almost 37 per cent, of entry-level tasks in India are already performed by AI, surpassing the global average of 33 per cent, according to a joint study by Cognizant and Pearson that cited a survey of HR leaders. The study found that entry-level roles are evolving as organisations move from task execution toward working alongside AI systems. The survey is based on 750 HR leaders across the US, UK and India. Cognizant and Pearson commissioned independent market research conducted by Wakefield Research in the three markets between March 23 and April 3, 2026, among 750 HR professionals at the director level and above, at companies with at least 1,000 employees. "...the study finds that 37 per cent of entry-level tasks in India are already performed by AI, compared to a 33 per cent global average, with 18 per cent of HR leaders reporting that AI now handles half or more of entry-level work, signalling accelerated disruption in one of the country's largest workforce segments," it said. As many as 96 per cent of HR leaders surveyed expect entry-level roles to evolve into positions where employees supervise or manage AI systems within the next five years. "Nearly all HR professionals (94 per cent) expect AI will generate new entry-level roles in the next five years that didn't exist before," it said. More than 90 per cent of respondents say middle managers are instrumental to redefining job roles as AI changes the day-to-day work of team members, underlining the significance of middle managers in AI adoption. Nearly all HR professionals (98 per cent) are increasing focus on AI skills even for non-technical roles. Employees in these roles are increasingly expected to manage AI outputs, validate decisions, interpret results and apply human judgment, according to the study. "In India, 80 per cent of organisations report that AI is enabling employees to focus on higher-value work, compared to 77 per cent globally, reflecting the growing shift toward more strategic responsibilities," said the study by Cognizant and Pearson. Rajesh Varrier, President - Global Operations and Chairman and Managing Director, Cognizant India, believes the country is at the forefront of how AI is transforming entry-level work, with organisations already embedding AI into day-to-day operations at scale. "We are seeing a fundamental redesign of roles, where early-career talent is expected to work alongside AI and focus on higher-value outcomes. This shift underscores the necessity for extensive reskilling and improved managerial effectiveness, both of which are key in an economy increasingly shaped by AI," Varrier said. As work evolves, the most successful organisations will focus less on replacing tasks and more on building the capabilities that help humans and AI work together, Ali Bebo, Chief Human Resources Officer at Pearson, said, adding that the future belongs to organisations that combine AI innovation with a deep understanding of how people learn, develop and apply new skills in the real world. PTI

Why India's AI Boom is Making 'Human Skills' the Ultimate Workplace Currency

As Indian companies accelerate AI adoption and focus on technical upskilling, new research from International Workplace Group (IWG), the world's leading platform for work, suggests that the next workforce challenge is building the human capabilities needed to use AI creatively and collaboratively. According to IWG's survey, the vast majority (90%) of HR leaders believe that failing to prioritize human capabilities is a risk to innovation. This finding reflects the emergence of a new "Human Skills Economy," in which empathy, judgment, creativity, and leadership are core to business performance. Rise of AI: A New Operating Reality for Work AI is now deeply embedded in everyday workflows across organizations. IWG's survey of hundreds of HR and recruitment leaders revealed that 73% of hybrid teams are already using tools like ChatGPT and 82% of organisations offer AI training. However, HR leaders say their readiness must accelerate to keep up, with fewer than half (45%) saying they are effectively closing the skills gap, suggesting a significant number of organisations are still lagging in effective AI use. The findings are particularly relevant for India, where organisations are rapidly moving towards AI-enabled ways of working. India leads the world in workplace AI adoption, with 73% of workers using AI tools regularly, well ahead of the United States (45%) and the United Kingdom (29%). According to Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index India findings, 93% of Indian business leaders intend to use AI agents to extend workforce capabilities within the next 12-18 months. This acceleration makes the development of human skills such as empathy, judgment, leadership and collaboration even more critical as companies redesign work around human-AI collaboration. Humans + AI: The New Performance Model As the labour market tightens - particularly at the entry level - employers are being forced to rethink what truly drives performance. Research from Randstad and the Institute of Student Employers shows that entry-level vacancies fell by 29% globally between January 2024 and the end of 2025, raising the bar for what differentiates candidates. In India, that squeeze is already visible in the sector that defined its rise, with entry-level IT roles down an estimated 20 to 25% as automation absorbs routine work, even as the country fields one of the world's youngest workforces. While Gen Z brings a clear advantage in technological fluency, skills alone are no longer enough. The real differentiator is AI literacy: the ability to meaningfully apply AI tools in day-to-day work to unlock productivity and new ways of thinking. In fact, research from International Workplace Group shows that nearly two-thirds of younger employees are already helping older colleagues adopt AI, from hands-on coaching to embedding tools into everyday workflows. Against this backdrop, a new performance model is emerging, in which AI handles technical and repeatable tasks, and human capabilities define impact, leadership, and long-term value. HR leaders are clear about where humans remain essential: * 65% say AI will never replicate human empathy * 64% say it falls short in complex decision-making * 53% say leadership will remain uniquely human At the same time, boundaries are still evolving. Only 40% believe creativity will remain beyond AI's reach, signalling a continued shift in how organisations define the line between human and machine capability. Elements That Can't Be Replicated: The Enduring Value of Human Skills Even as automation expands, human skills are becoming the most durable source of competitive advantage. While 40% say missing AI or technology skills can disqualify candidates, two-thirds (66%) of HR leaders now say applicants' ability to demonstrate human skills matters most in hiring, ranking above experience, technical skills, and education. This shift is also reflected in evolving hiring signals: 45% of employers say they look for context around career moves and gaps to better understand a candidate's overall experience and trajectory. In India, industry body NASSCOM has noted that India has the capacity to reskill and develop 8 -10 million professionals in AI-related services by 2030. Deloitte and NASSCOM have also estimated that India's AI talent demand could grow from 600,000-650,000 to more than 1.25 million between 2022 and 2027, while noting that a shortage of qualified professionals could slow innovation and growth. This makes the combination of AI fluency and human capabilities central to India's future workforce readiness. Further, more than half (55%) of HR leaders say hybrid workplaces are among the most effective settings for building empathy, judgment, and leadership skills, underscoring how hybrid work environments are seen as spaces where essential human traits like trust, mentorship, collaboration, and decision-making are actively developed and reinforced. The Bottom Line As AI reshapes work, organisations face a clear mandate. Success now depends not just on adopting new technologies, but also on strengthening human capabilities and helping technology and humans work as true teammates. The future belongs to companies that integrate AI while intentionally building environments where human skills thrive. Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of International Workplace Group, commented: "Every major technological shift has redefined how we work -- from the rise of the internet to email to smartphones. AI is no different, but what sets this moment apart is the speed and scale of change. Some roles will evolve or disappear, while entirely new ones will emerge. As always, the organisations that resist transformation will fall behind. A key advantage will belong to those that combine AI's efficiency with the uniquely human skills that drive innovation, leadership, and growth." Harsh Lambah, India Country Manager and VP Sales of South Asia at International Workplace Group, commented: "India is uniquely well positioned to lead the new 'Human skills economy' given that it has the world's youngest workforce, and the fastest rate of AI adoption. The workplaces that will win in this new economy are the ones where people and AI grow together, and that is exactly what we are building across the country."

AI Now Handles 37% of Entry-Level Tasks in India, Outpacing Global Average

Employers to focus on interdisciplinary skills; expect new hires to supervise AI Cognizant and Pearson today released findings from their joint study, The AI Workforce Pulse: The Adaptability Imperative, highlighting how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming India's entry-level workforce at a faster pace than the global average, while simultaneously creating new career pathways and urgent skilling challenges. Based on a survey of 750 HR leaders across the US, UK and India, the study finds that 37% of entry-level tasks in India are already performed by AI, compared to a 33% global average, with 18% of HR leaders reporting that AI now handles half or more of entry-level work, signalling accelerated disruption in one of the country's largest workforce segments. The findings point to four interconnected shifts shaping the AI workforce ahead: Roles are Being Reinvented The study finds that entry-level roles are evolving as organisations increasingly shift from task execution toward working alongside AI systems. * Nearly all (96%) HR leaders expect entry-level roles to evolve into positions where employees supervise or manage AI systems within the next five years. * Nearly all HR professionals (94%) expect AI will generate new entry-level roles in the next five years that didn't exist before. * More than 90% of respondents say middle managers are instrumental to redefining job roles as AI changes the day-to-day work of team members. * Nearly all HR professionals (98%) are increasing focus on AI skills even for non-technical roles. Employees in these roles are increasingly expected to manage AI outputs, validate decisions, interpret results and apply human judgment. In India, 80% of organisations report that AI is enabling employees to focus on higher-value work, compared to 77% globally, reflecting the growing shift toward more strategic responsibilities. Human and Interdisciplinary Skills Are Increasingly Important As AI takes on routine work, organisations are placing greater emphasis on human capabilities and adaptability. * Nearly all (97%) report soft skills matter more than ever, reflecting a need for adaptability, problem-solving, and human judgment. * Two in three HR professionals (67%) report they value liberal arts degrees more than they used to in light of AI advancements. * Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) HR professionals say broad, interdisciplinary backgrounds are more important for early-career talent than deep, specialized skillsets or focused degrees, with 65% of HR professionals in India reflecting this shift. In addition, 91% of organisations in India place greater value on AI skills for non-technical roles, signalling a broader redefinition of what "job-ready" talent looks like. Demand for AI Skills Is Rising, but Readiness Is Uneven While demand for AI capabilities is accelerating, organisations are not fully prepared to meet it. * 91% of HR professionals report increased employee demand for AI training over the past 12 months. * 60% say their L&D programmes cannot keep pace with how quickly AI is transforming jobs, with India reporting a similar challenge at 63%. * 54% of HR professionals say their organizations proactively arrange AI upskilling in anticipation of future roles evolving, while 46% say their organizations are not proactively arranging this training. At the same time, India shows relative strength in how organisations are approaching learning: * 63% of organisations in India have allotted time for AI training, higher than the U.S. (49%). However, 61% of organisations in India report challenges finding the right talent, reflecting the pace at which skill requirements are evolving. Middle Managers Are Critical to AI Adoption Middle managers play a central role in enabling AI adoption and translating strategy into execution. * 95% of HR leaders say middle managers are critical to ensuring employees use AI effectively. * 92% say middle managers play a crucial role in redefining job roles as AI reshapes day-to-day work. Rajesh Varrier, President - Global Operations and Chairman & Managing Director, Cognizant India, said, "India is at the forefront of how AI is transforming entry-level work, with organizations already embedding AI into day-to-day operations at scale. We are seeing a fundamental redesign of roles, where early-career talent is expected to work alongside AI and focus on higher-value outcomes. This shift underscores the necessity for extensive reskilling and improved managerial effectiveness, both of which are key in an economy increasingly shaped by AI." "AI is reshaping the talent landscape and exposing the limits of traditional talent and learning models," said Kathy Diaz, Chief People Officer, Cognizant. "With the fundamental shift in entry-level tasks and skill requirements changing rapidly, organizations must rethink how they hire and develop talent at pace." The new findings build on Cognizant's earlier New Work, New World 2026 study, which found that AI is already impacting 93% of jobs, underscoring the urgency for employers to prepare for changing role expectations. Cognizant sees early-career talent as increasingly important in an AI-enabled workforce. After hiring 20,000 fresh graduates in 2025, the company expects to exceed that number in 2026, reflecting its continued investment in early-career talent and skill development as work evolves. "As work evolves, the most successful organizations will focus less on replacing tasks and more on building the capabilities that help humans and AI work together. That starts with early-career talent," said Ali Bebo, Chief Human Resources Officer, Pearson. "The future belongs to organizations that combine AI innovation with a deep understanding of how people learn, develop and apply new skills in the real world." Through their partnership, Cognizant and Pearson are working together to help recent graduates, apprentices and mid-career professionals build skills in AI, cloud and digital technologies. Pearson supports Cognizant's existing workforce development programs, including Synapse and its Immersive Learning Center in Chennai, to help create stronger development paths for the workforce.