India Ranks 5th In Future Of Work, 18th In Skills Alignment: QS Future Skills Index Flags Talent Gap In AI Era | Education and Career News
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While US has secured the top rank globally, UK has grabbed the first spot in ‘academic readiness’ and China took the first place in ‘economic transformation’.
India stands 18th in “Skills Alignment” and 22nd in “Academic Readiness”. (Getty Images)
India has secured the 13th position in the QS World Future Skills Index 2027, emerging as the strongest-performing lower-middle-income economy for its ability to capitalise on AI-driven growth opportunities. India scored 89.4 out of 100 in the index, which assesses 89 countries on their preparedness to benefit from AI-led economic transformation through an analysis of talent supply and demand.
While US has secured the top rank globally, UK has grabbed the first spot in ‘academic readiness’ and China took the first place in ‘economic transformation’.
India ranked fifth globally in the “Future of Work” category with a strong performance in preparing its workforce for AI, digital and green transitions. It also secured the 14th position in “Economic Transformation”, reflecting its ability to convert skills, innovation and economic capacity into growth. However, India stands 18th in “Skills Alignment” and 22nd in “Academic Readiness”, indicating a mismatch between evolving industry needs and the ability of educational institutions to produce graduates with relevant skills.
According to QS, India’s rise from 25th place in the 2025 pilot edition to 13th in the 2027 ranking should not be viewed as a direct year-on-year improvement, as the index methodology has undergone significant changes and now includes expanded parameters, it added.
“…India represents one of the most significant opportunities for higher education globally. It ranks fifth for Future of Work readiness (96.0), but eighteenth for Skills Alignment (82.7), evidencing a gap between labour-market transformation and the ability to produce job-ready graduates. As one of the world’s largest economies and higher education systems, India’s success in closing this gap will shape both its national growth trajectory and the global supply of skilled talent,” reads the official website.
“Government policy can play a pivotal role. India’s National Education Policy 2020 is an ambitious attempt to address this challenge, with reforms focused on curriculum flexibility, industry alignment, future-focused skills, and graduate employability at scale. TNE partnerships including branch campuses, and collaborative delivery models can help high-growth economies close skills gaps faster while strengthening global talent pipelines for economies facing persistent skills shortages,” it added.
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