51% Indians believe AI will help improve productivity at work: PwC

The PwC survey findings highlight the growing expectations of the workforce, which now demand more than just competitive compensation from their employers.

According to a survey conducted by PwC titled 'India Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2023,' 51% of Indian respondents expressed confidence that artificial intelligence would enhance their productivity at work, compared to 31% of global respondents, provided their organizations offer upskilling opportunities.This information indicates a positive outlook on AI's potential to improve productivity among Indian workers, particularly when organizations invest in upskilling initiatives.

The Positive trends are:

· Higher confidence in AI: Indian respondents show significantly higher confidence in AI's productivity boost compared to the global average. This suggests a potential willingness to embrace AI-powered solutions in the Indian workforce.

· Emphasis on upskilling: The survey identifies upskilling as a critical factor for employees to leverage AI effectively. This highlights the need for organizations to invest in training programs that equip their workforce with the necessary skills to work alongside AI.

Most Indian leaders are aware of the criticality to transform their workforce for the future success of their businesses. Similarly, as their work and workplace are undergoing significant changes, employees in India are highly aware of the urgency to upskill, that is increasingly becoming an important factor in their career decisions," as per the expert from PwC India.

However, organisations continue to adopt a much lesser focus on skills, especially those for the future, in their talent strategies and programs. Adopting a forward-looking, skills-first approach, which is integrated into their business processes will be a key factor for leaders in sustaining businesses over the next decade.

24% of Indians, however, said that AI would negatively impact their work. Globally, the percentage of people who believe this is 14%. Furthermore, 21% cent of Indian respondents believed AI would take over their jobs as compared to 13% of the global respondents.

The report also highlighted that the Indian workforce is restless, with 42% of employees indicating that they are likely to change jobs in the next year due to expectations of better pay packages and promotions as compared to 26% globally.

Additionally, 70 % of Indian participants, as against 35% of their global counterparts, are willing to ask for a promotion. While a significant amount of organisational efforts are focussed on the younger generation, the survey found that managers and senior executives will also need attention.

To thrive, organisations and leaders will need to make some tough choices while blending adaptability with innovative workforce structures and career pathways, for an ever-evolving landscape.

S Mohini Ratna, Editor, VARINDIA