India Skills Report 2026: Employability reaches 56.35% as nation emerges as global talent hub

India has emerged as a global leader in talent, with national employability reaching 56.35% in 2026, up from 54.81% last year, according to the latest India Skills Report 2026. According to it, more than 90% of Indian employees have already begun working with generative AI tools.

The 13th edition of the India Skills Report, released by ETS in collaboration with CII, AICTE, AIU, and Taggd, has seen the changing dynamics of the Indian workforce and its preparedness for a digital future. It reflects the country's steady transition toward a skill-first economy, driven by AI adoption, digital fluency, and global workforce mobility.

According to this year's findings, the overall employability of the nation has risen consistently from 46.2% in 2022 to 56.3% in 2026. Presently, India commands 16% of the global AI talent pool, which is expected to touch 1.25 million by 2027.

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India Skills Report 2026: Gig, freelance workforce

The gig and freelance workforce keeps growing and is projected to reach 23.5 million by 2030, while project-based hiring is up by 38% in the past year. Technology, BFSI, manufacturing, renewable energy, and healthcare are leading sectors when it comes to hiring, while AI, data analytics, cloud computing, and cybersecurity have emerged as the most in-demand skills. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka recorded the highest employability levels in 2026 among the states.

The India Skills Report 2026 gathers insights from over 100,000 candidates through the Global Employability Test (GET) and industry responses across seven key sectors. This year's theme, "The Future of Work: Gig workforce, freelancing, AI-supplemented workforce, remote work and entrepreneurship," digs deeper into how evolving job formats and digital transformation are redefining workforce readiness and employability standards across the country.

“The 2026 edition of the India Skills Report shows India standing at the intersection of scale, skill, and technology. The next decade will cement India’s leadership in global talent mobility through modular, AI-integrated skilling and internationally recognized certifications,” says Nirmal Singh, CEO, Wheebox ETS and chief convenor of the India Skills Report.