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Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon.com, unveiled groundbreaking research today, indicating a potential surge in salaries for Indian workers equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) expertise. According to the study, workers in India possessing AI skills could witness a remarkable salary hike of over 54%. Industries such as Information Technology (IT) and research and development (R&D) are poised to benefit the most, with potential salary increases of 65% and 62%, respectively.

Commissioned by AWS, the research titled “Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Asia-Pacific Workforce for Jobs of the Future” was conducted by Access Partnership. The comprehensive study surveyed over 1,600 workers and 500 employers across India to gain insights into emerging AI usage trends and workforce skilling needs.

Beyond salary increments, the study reveals an overwhelmingly positive outlook among Indian workers regarding the impact of AI skills on their careers. A staggering 97% of respondents anticipate a positive influence, foreseeing enhanced job efficiency and career progression. Moreover, an overwhelming 95% of workers expressed keen interest in acquiring AI skills to expedite their professional growth, transcending generational boundaries. Even among baby boomers, traditionally associated with retirement plans, 90% expressed willingness to enroll in AI upskilling courses if available.

The research underscores the potential productivity gains for India’s workforce with the widespread adoption of AI. Surveyed employers anticipate a substantial increase in organizational productivity, projected at 68%. This surge is attributed to AI’s ability to automate repetitive tasks (71%), facilitate skill acquisition (68%), and enhance workflow and outcomes (64%). Workers themselves believe that AI could boost their efficiency by as much as 66%.

The study also highlights the rapid pace of AI adoption across various sectors in India. An overwhelming 99% of employers envision their companies evolving into AI-driven entities by 2028. While the finance department is anticipated to reap the most significant benefits according to 97% of employers, other departments, including IT, R&D, sales, marketing, business operations, human resources, and legal, are also poised to derive substantial value from AI integration.

Abhineet Kaul, Director at Access Partnership, commented, “The AI wave is sweeping across the Asia-Pacific region, including India, transforming the way businesses operate and the way we work.” He emphasized the need for organizations and governments to nurture a proficient AI-skilled workforce capable of steering future advancements.

Furthermore, the study sheds light on the burgeoning interest in generative AI—a technology capable of rapidly creating diverse content. Nearly all surveyed employers and workers in India anticipate incorporating generative AI tools into their workflows within the next five years. The primary benefits cited include increased innovation and creativity, improved outcomes, and the automation of repetitive tasks.

Amit Mehta, Head of AWS Training and Certification, AWS India Private Limited, stressed the indispensability of AI skills for India’s future workforce. He underscored AWS’s commitment to upskilling employees in collaboration with organizations like Wipro, L&T Technology Services, and Iris Software.

The research also identifies a critical AI skills gap in India that must be addressed to fully leverage the benefits of AI. While hiring AI-skilled talent remains a top priority for 96% of employers, a staggering 79% struggle to find the talent they need. Moreover, there’s a significant gap in training awareness, with 91% of employers admitting uncertainty about implementing AI workforce training programs.

Dr. Rupa Chanda from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) emphasized the imperative of upskilling workers in AI to navigate evolving digital landscapes effectively.

Recognizing the urgency of digital skills training, AWS has launched initiatives such as ‘AI Ready’ to provide free AI and generative AI training courses. With over 5.5 million individuals trained in cloud skills since 2017, AWS aims to equip the Indian workforce for an AI-dominated future.

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