Job retention confidence of Indian professionals plummets to 62% vs 71% a year ago: Great Learning report

Job retention confidence has plummeted to 62% among Indian professionals in FY25 – a fall of nine percentage points from the previous year – hit by technological disruptions, macroeconomic uncertainty and layoffs in certain sectors, according to a study of over 1000 professionals across industries by edtech company Great Learning.

In last year’s study, 71% of professionals expressed confidence in job retention.

Only 29% of entry-level professionals are confident about retaining their jobs, shows the third edition of their ‘Upskilling Trends Report 2024- 25’.

About 79% of professionals highlight the importance of upskilling to future-proof their careers in FY25.

Upskilling holds the highest importance among professionals with over 17 years of experience, with 92% of such respondents attesting to the same. Professionals with engineering degrees and those employed in the IT/Telecom/Tech sector consider upskilling crucial for them.

Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-Founder Great Learning, said, “Since last year, challenging economic conditions and an unstable geopolitical situation have made it difficult for many businesses to access capital and expand profitably. To stay competitive in this dynamic environment, continuous learning and upskilling are crucial to adapt and evolve.”“It is encouraging to see professionals adopting a proactive approach to navigate this disruption by acquiring specialized skills to meet evolving employer demands. Government initiatives aimed at promoting skill development have further amplified this awareness,” he added.About 85% of professionals in India are planning to invest in upskilling in FY25 overall. The intent to upskill among freshers has grown by eight percentage points, standing at 83% this year as compared to 75% in FY24.

In fact, Great Learning also witnessed an 18% increase in demand for upskilling from freshers and entry-level professionals (0-3 years of work experience) in FY24.

Among key sectors, the intent to upskill in FY25 was highest among professionals from manufacturing, engineering, capital goods, and BFSI.

Bengaluru and Chennai have displayed the highest intent to upskill this year compared to other metros in India, with 87% of professionals planning to invest in upskilling in FY25 in both these cities.

In FY25, data science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning emerged as the most preferred domains professionals are looking to upskill, followed by software development and digital marketing.