India tops economic capacity but ranks low in workforce readiness: QS report
A new report by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has ranked India number one in economic capacity for an AI-driven future, while highlighting a significant gap in workforce readiness and human capital development.
The QS World Future Skills Index 2027, released on Wednesday, places India at 13th overall among 89 economies with a score of 89.4. It leads all lower-middle-income economies and South Asia in the index.
However, the report also shows that India ranks 74th in workforce readiness and 73rd in human capital. This disparity suggests that the country's economic momentum is not yet matched by the availability of job-ready talent, particularly in fields related to artificial intelligence (AI).
The index notes that India has the world's strongest economic capacity for an AI-driven future and ranks second in digital-skills penetration. But capturing the estimated $500-billion opportunity from AI by 2030 will depend on how effectively its education and skilling systems can adapt to labour market transformation.
The report emphasises that the balance between AI-augmented and AI-automated jobs will be crucial to India's long-term competitiveness. It points out that leading economies have a larger share of workers in occupations where AI enhances productivity rather than replaces people.
India's performance in the index reflects both strengths and weaknesses. While the country has a strong base of digital skills and economic potential, it must address gaps in workforce readiness and human capital to fully leverage the AI revolution.
