86 per cent in India report workplace disruptions, above global levels | India News
Accessed exclusively by TOI, the 2026 Human Progress Report by ETS (Educational Testing Service), a global nonprofit that designs assessments like TOEFL and GRE and tracks workforce readiness trends, flags a defining shift. Job security is no longer tenure, adaptability is. As AI reshapes work and roles evolve rapidly, Indian workers are turning to continuous learning and skill validation to stay competitive.Globally, 67% of workers report at least one major workplace disruption, but India is among the most affected markets. Almost 98% of workers here are experiencing at least one barrier to professional success, underscoring the pressure to constantly high skills.Yet, India also stands for resilience. The country recorded a Human Progress Index score of 114.4, significantly higher than the global average of 96.7.The report shows that Indian workers are actively future-proofing. Nine in ten say they are developing new skills, while 90% believe that credentialed credentials are essential as skills demand changes.“In the face of a changing work landscape, employees are adapting quickly,” said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. “Adaptability is becoming the new ‘must have’ skill.”A key driver of this shift is AI. Indian workers estimate that more than 42% of their work involves AI tools, higher than the global average, and 78% say they use AI primarily to stay competitive, not by choice.Globally, the report points to a widening skills gap. Workers face a 19-point gap between the importance of AI skills and actual skills, and 88% expect employers to support upskilling, but only 71% get it.Stress is translated into anxiety. Another structural gap is developing around access to credentials. While 73% of workers worldwide want competency credentials, only 45% have access, indicating barriers to affordability and availability.The broader global picture is one of continued disruption. The report, based on more than 32,000 respondents in 18 countries, noted that workers are “trying to target an unclear future,” even as they build skills in real time.
