India Skills Report 2026: Women Lead India’s Employability Surge

• The India Skills Report (ISR) 2026 , jointly released by ETS , in collaboration with CII, AICTE, AIU , and Taggd , highlights a major transformation in India’s employment landscape. India’s employability rate has climbed to 56.35% , with women surpassing men in job readiness for the first time. The 13th edition of the report underscores India’s emergence as a global talent hub driven by AI adoption, digital skilling, and the expanding gig economy .

Rising Employability and Gender Parity

• The report draws insights from over 100,000 candidates who took the Global Employability Test (GET) and 1,000 employers across seven sectors. It records a steady rise in employability — from 46.2% in 2022 to 54.8% in 2025 , reaching 56.3% in 2026 .
• Notably, female employability now stands at 54% , overtaking male employability (51.5%) . The surge is credited to hybrid work models , digital literacy , and inclusive learning opportunities in tier-2 and tier-3 cities , signalling a structural shift toward a skill-first workforce .

AI Integration and Future Skill Demand

• The ISR reports that India now contributes 16% of the global AI talent pool , expected to reach 1.25 million AI specialists by 2027 . Over 90% of professionals use generative AI tools , while 70% of IT and 50% of BFSI firms have adopted AI-based recruitment systems .
• According to Nirmal Singh , CEO of Wheebox ETS and ISR convenor, India now “stands at the intersection of scale, skill, and technology.”

Gig Economy and Sectoral Outlook

• India’s gig workforce is projected to reach 23.5 million by 2030 , growing at 38% annually , with hiring intent for FY 2026–27 rising to 40% from 29% last year. Job creation is led by technology, BFSI, manufacturing, renewable energy, and healthcare sectors. The most employable states in 2026 are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka .

Exam Pointers

• Employability rate: 56.35%

• Women’s employability: 54% (first time higher than men)

• AI talent share: 16% globally

• Gig workforce (2030): 23.5 million

• Top states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka