Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment in India
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is anticipated to significantly impact employment in India's tech sector, according to a NITI Aayog report.
- Potential job losses of up to two million in a sector currently employing around eight million people.
- Possible creation of four million new job roles over the next five years.
Challenges and Opportunities
BVR Subrahmanyam, NITI Aayog CEO, highlighted:
- The risk of job losses impacting a wider ecosystem that supports 20 to 30 million others.
- The need for adaptation as job profiles, expertise, and processes undergo transformation.
Recommendations for Mitigating Disruptions
The report suggests the initiation of a National AI Talent Mission to position India as the leading AI workforce globally.
- Emphasizes collaboration between the proposed AI Talent Mission and the ongoing India AI Mission.
- Urges partnerships among academia, government, and industry to develop talent into innovators and researchers.
Current Employment Concerns
Recent job cuts at major IT firms raise concerns:
- A significant IT company reported nearly 20,000 job cuts in the last quarter.
- Challenges in campus placements with 60% of students not placed in some colleges.
Strategic Needs and Future Goals
The report emphasizes the need for:
- Reskilling existing tech workers to adapt to AI landscape changes.
- Utilizing India's vast pool of over 9 million technology professionals and young digital talent.
- Urgency, vision, and coordinated efforts to transform into a trusted global AI workforce by 2035.
Debjani Ghosh, Distinguished Fellow at NITI Aayog, states the difference between job loss and creation depends on choices made today, providing a roadmap for India to become the epicenter of AI talent by 2035.
