The number of artificial intelligence (AI) skilled workers in India increased 14-fold in June 2023 compared to January 2016, according to a LinkedIn survey. This growth places India among the top five countries in demand for AI talent, along with Singapore, Finland, Ireland and Canada.

The report “Future of Work: State of Work @ AI” by the professional networking platform LinkedIn highlighted the increasing importance of AI in the workforce.

In its India findings, the report found that 43 percent of members saw increasing use of AI in their workplaces over the past year. The surge has prompted 71 percent of Gen Z professionals in the country to recognize that acquiring AI skills could improve their career prospects.

One in two workers in three said they will learn at least one digital skill this year, with AI and machine learning (ML) among the skills listed, the report said.

Also read | Nearly half of Indian freelancers fear being replaced by AI: report

The survey found that 57 percent of executives plan to increase AI use in their organizations over the next year. This shows that companies are also actively re-skilling their existing workforce in AI skills to stay agile and adaptable.

Additionally, 91 percent of top leaders in India recognized the increasing importance of AI skills, beating the global average of 72 percent. According to the survey, seven out of ten professionals felt that soft skills, such as creativity and problem-solving, allowed them to bring a fresh perspective to their work.

Also read | Google wants to overhaul Assistant with generative AI, layoffs likely

“As AI shapes the future of work, India recognizes the importance of human potential and the critical role soft skills will play in building a world-class workforce of the future,” said Ashutosh Gupta, Country Manager at LinkedIn India.

“As India’s top leaders embrace the effectiveness of interpersonal skills in the age of AI, we are entering an era where more fulfilling, human-centric work is paramount,” Gupta added.