AI Skills and Soft Skills: Preparing India’s Students for the Future Workforce
AI is reshaping jobs, urging students to upskill with both technical and soft skills. Programs like EY’s AI Skills Passport help bridge gaps for rural and female learners.
Soft Skills, Digital Democratisation, and Education: Preparing Students for the AI-Driven Workforce
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the job market fast, pushing students and professionals to learn new skills that align with AI technologies. A recent webinar by Microsoft and YourStory brought together experts to discuss how students in India can get ready for these changes.
The panel featured Paritosh Segal, Co-founder of NavSahyog Foundation; Rumi Mallick Mitra, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at EY GDS; Aditi Jha, Board Director and Head of Legal & Government Affairs at LinkedIn; and Gunjan Patel, Director of Skills for Social Impact at Microsoft Philanthropies, who moderated the session.
Adapting Education and Upskilling for an AI Economy
Gunjan Patel highlighted the urgent need for upskilling in an economy increasingly driven by AI. She emphasized that educational courses must evolve to include current technology and that companies should develop programs to support workforce skill development.
A Skills Passport to Meet AI Demands
Rumi Mallick Mitra addressed the significant shift in the job market, noting a LinkedIn study that found a 2,000% increase in job postings mentioning AI skills. However, many students feel their academic programs haven't caught up with AI’s rise, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity.
Mitra pointed out barriers like limited internet access, gender bias, and preconceived notions about AI, which slow adoption in India. To tackle this, EY introduced the AI Skills Passport—a 10-hour hybrid course offering a full view of AI, including its ethical considerations and real-world applications. It’s open to college students, vocational learners, job seekers, and professionals looking to upskill.
Soft Skills: The Key to Unlocking the Future
Aditi Jha shared insights from LinkedIn’s economic graph, revealing that by 2030, 70% of the skills required for a given job will change. The demand for AI talent grows at 30%, but supply only at 16%, creating a wide gap.
She urged a shift from traditional hiring based on degrees and experience to skills-based hiring. While AI may automate certain tasks, human qualities like communication, leadership, empathy, and critical thinking will set professionals apart.
Jha stressed the importance of early soft skill development in India, noting that AI will become a general-purpose technology accessible beyond engineering fields. This means growth in AI jobs will extend across sectors, making soft skills even more valuable.
Bridging the Gap for Rural Students
Paritosh Segal shared his experience working with over 9,000 children in 300 villages through NavSahyog Foundation. Since nearly 70% of school-going children in India live in rural areas, enhancing life skills and creativity there is vital.
Segal emphasized that 65% of India’s youth live in rural areas and often lack soft skills, limiting their job prospects to low-value work. AI offers a chance to level the playing field, but only if the right life skills are taught alongside technological knowledge.
Addressing Gender Bias in AI and Tech
All panelists agreed on the need to increase women’s participation in AI. Mitra noted that despite efforts to promote STEM education for girls, AI is still seen as too technical for many.
Aditi Jha cited LinkedIn data showing only 22% of AI professionals globally are women, with 78% male representation. She stressed the importance of investing in women currently studying engineering and supporting female educators to prepare future generations.
Interestingly, LinkedIn data also shows women outperform men by 28% in soft skill proficiency, which aligns well with the growing importance of these skills in the AI era.
Segal added that gender bias is more severe in rural areas, where girls often miss out on developing soft skills and are more likely to drop out early. NavSahyog’s work in this area has shown promising results.
Final Thoughts
The panel concluded by reinforcing that upskilling is essential for students to succeed in an AI-driven job market. However, nurturing soft skills remains critical for adapting to fast-changing roles and responsibilities.
For educators, this means designing learning experiences that balance AI technical skills with communication, leadership, empathy, and critical thinking. Preparing students with this combination will better equip them for the jobs of tomorrow.
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