Winning Bizness Desk.
Mumbai.Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the employment landscape across India, with experts warning that traditional degrees alone may no longer guarantee career success. Sectors such as information technology, law, commerce, translation, design and library science are already witnessing significant disruption as AI-powered tools automate or reduce several tasks that previously required specialised academic qualifications. A growing number of employers are now looking beyond conventional degrees and placing greater emphasis on candidates who can combine formal education with AI capabilities.
Companies seek graduates with AI expertise
According to HR firm TeamLease, nearly 40% of companies now consider "hybrid skills" — a combination of academic qualifications and AI proficiency — as essential for hiring. A 2024 report by NASSCOM found that 82% of BCA and MCA graduates in India lack formal training in AI tools, highlighting a widening skills gap.
The World Economic Forum has projected that jobs will increasingly favour professionals who can use AI to boost productivity by as much as 40%. Meanwhile, the IBM Institute for Business Value notes that AI itself may not replace workers, but people who effectively use AI are likely to replace those who do not.
Key findings from major reports include:
- Nearly 40% firms prefer degree holders with AI skills
- 82% BCA and MCA graduates lack AI training
- Productivity gains of up to 40% are becoming critical
- Around 22% jobs may be impacted by 2030
Experts say degree model must evolve
HR leader and co-founder of PeopleStrong and TAGGD, Pankaj Bansal, believes traditional degrees are not becoming irrelevant but their current format is losing value. He argues that if educational content and teaching methods do not evolve, employers will gradually lose interest in candidates who possess only theoretical knowledge.
He advises students currently pursuing graduation to work on live projects, obtain professional AI tool licences and spend months developing software, digital products or practical solutions. For graduates already out of college, internships and hands-on projects remain the most effective path to employability.
Bansal also predicts that graduation will continue to be important for shortlisting candidates over the next three to five years. However, he believes practical learning credits under the National Education Policy could eventually become more significant than conventional degrees.
Rise of the ‘10x professional’
The employment market is increasingly rewarding individuals capable of delivering significantly higher output through technology. Bansal says companies are looking for “10x professionals” — employees who can achieve the productivity of several workers by effectively using AI.
According to him:
- Firms increasingly value outcomes over qualifications
- AI-skilled professionals can command higher salaries
- Practical problem-solving matters more than certificates
- Average performers face greater competition
He also cautions that AI certificates alone do not guarantee jobs. Employers continue to assess core competence, practical AI application and performance in recruitment tests before making hiring decisions.
Freshers face pressure but opportunities emerge
Entry-level hiring has faced short-term challenges as AI enables fewer employees to complete work that previously required larger teams. Several traditional IT companies have slowed or delayed fresher recruitment in recent years. However, experts believe this trend is temporary and that overall job creation will continue over the long term.
A major source of new opportunities is the rapid expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India. The country currently hosts more than 4,000 GCCs, with new centres opening regularly. These organisations are actively recruiting candidates with AI-related skills and offering attractive compensation packages.
Human strengths remain irreplaceable
Despite growing automation, experts insist that AI cannot replace every aspect of human work. Rising AI infrastructure and processing costs have also led some organisations to reassess whether replacing employees always makes economic sense.
Bansal identifies four human qualities that will remain highly valuable in the AI era:
- Decision-making ability
- Emotional intelligence
- Aggregation and analytical thinking
- Effective communication skills
He adds that sectors such as hospitality, sales, data sciences and AI-assisted specialist roles, including doctors and journalists who understand AI tools, are expected to remain resilient.
China and India overhaul education systems
The global shift is also influencing higher education. Between 2021 and 2025, Chinese universities cancelled or suspended more than 12,200 undergraduate programmes while introducing nearly 10,200 new ones. Many discontinued courses were linked to humanities, foreign languages, arts and management, as China redirected focus towards AI, semiconductors, robotics and strategic technologies.
India is witnessing similar changes. The Karnataka government has discontinued 458 combinations across BA, BSc and BCom programmes in government colleges for the 2026-27 academic year. It has also reduced seats in more than 1,300 courses, citing low enrolment and changing academic requirements.
The developments underline a growing reality:degrees may still open doors, but future careers will increasingly depend on how effectively individuals combine education, technology and practical skills.
