A significantly higher percentage of Indian respondents (56%) compared to the global average (45%) believe their organisations will teach them the skills they need to adapt to artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, said Mercer’s ‘Global Talent Trends’ report.
The report, based on a survey of 600 respondents in India and about 12,200 globally, said more Indian respondents (46%) than the global average (37%) also said their organisations are good at communicating how AI will improve their work. However, only 23% of Indian respondents said their leaders are embracing AI.
New York City-headquartered human resources and financial services company Mercer surveyed C-suite executives, human resources leaders, employees and investors across 17 countries and 16 industries for the ninth annual edition of the report.
The survey also found that regular feedback is a priority for Indian workers, with 50% of them saying they receive regular feedback on how their performance and skills impact their careers, compared to the global average of 42%.
Further, job security and positive work culture are top priorities among Indian employees. When asked about their top reasons for staying with their employers, 37% of Indian respondents cited job security, while 36% mentioned a positive work culture.
“In the era of India’s digital transformation, embracing a digital-first culture is not just a choice, but a necessity for businesses. AI has the potential to revolutionise the way skilled talent is developed in India by unlocking the potential of human capital, empowering them to acquire new skills, enhance their capabilities and drive innovation,” said Sukhmeet Singh, talent and transformation consulting leader, Mercer India.
The report also said that seven in 10 employees believe they are thriving at the workplace, higher than six in 10 globally. Increasing cost of living (43%) and job uncertainty (45%) are the biggest concerns for Indian employees, and almost half of the respondents said financial strain would be the biggest risk of burnout in the next 12 months.
The report highlighted what companies are doing today to ensure long-term people sustainability.
Globally, about three in four (74%) executives expressed concern about their ability to pivot and only about a quarter (28%) of HR leaders said they were very confident they can make human-machine teaming a success.
Further, nearly half of the employees surveyed said they want to work for an organisation they can be proud of, and some companies are responding by prioritising sustainability efforts. Given that fair pay (34%) and development opportunities (28%) are key drivers of workers’ intent to stay with their respective organisations, the findings of the survey suggested that it is in the interest of employers to make faster progress on pay equity, transparency and equitable access to career opportunities in the year ahead.
