upGrad’s latest report warns India Inc. to act fast—growing skilling gaps, cross-generational challenges, and poor returns threaten workforce readiness.
Mumbai, May 22, 2025 – upGrad Enterprise, the corporate skilling division of Asia’s leading integrated lifelong learning company, upGrad, has released a landmark industry report titled “Skilling Smarter: A Strategic Guide to Training Across Generations.”
The report, based on insights from over 12,300 professionals across multiple sectors, reveals a widening gap between employee expectations and current corporate training strategies—particularly within today’s multigenerational workforce.
Despite widespread recognition of upskilling as critical to business success, the findings highlight a stark reality:
- 50% of India’s workforce received no formal training in FY24–25.
- 75% of employees participated in learning only when it was mandatory.
- Nearly 1 in 2 organisations lack a formal skilling strategy.
The report underscores the urgent need for personalised, relevant, and accessible training programs that reflect the diverse needs of Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z professionals.
Key Findings at a Glance:
- Lack of Formal Strategy: 1 in 4 organisations operate without a structured skilling framework. Only 16% of professionals engaged in quarterly learning.
- Mandates Over Motivation: 75% engage in skilling only when required. Top barriers include irrelevance (51%), limited access (43%), and time constraints (42%).
- Skilling Misalignment: Organisations prioritize technical and domain-focused training, while employees seek growth in leadership, soft skills, and strategic thinking.
- One Workforce, Diverse Learners:
- Gen X prefers expert-led sessions.
- Gen Y leans toward structured flexibility.
- Gen Z demands immersive, on-demand learning.
Yet, 63% of HR leaders do not tailor their programs by generation.
- Learning Format Disconnect: Though 80% of Gen Z are trained under managers, nearly 50% prefer self-paced or third-party platforms.
- Low Budgets, Low ROI: 60% of HR leaders allocate less than 5% of their budgets to skilling. Over 61% of CHROs report no measurable impact from existing programs.
- Format Fatigue: 50% of Gen Z associate learning with preset digital modules, while 45% desire interactive, real-world applications.
“There’s a serious skilling gap emerging,” said Srikanth Iyengar, CEO – upGrad Enterprise. “The pace of technological change is outpacing organisational readiness. Skilling can no longer be generic or occasional—it must be AI-integrated, soft-skill embedded, and learner-centric. Training should evolve with the workforce, not the other way around.”
He further added, “Our decade-long experience helps us design adaptive learning journeys—powered by deep learner insights and aligned with business outcomes. The goal is not just to acquire skills but to ensure they are applied meaningfully for business impact.”
Shirin Rai Gupta, Director – Marketing at upGrad Enterprise, emphasized the intent behind the report:
“We wanted to trigger action, not just conversation. With insights from over 12,300 professionals, this report brings hard data to real challenges. It’s a strategic toolkit for CHROs, L&D leaders, and CXOs to shape high-impact, cross-generational skilling strategies.”
The “Skilling Smarter“ report offers concrete frameworks to help India Inc. enhance talent ROI by fostering a culture of personalised, relevant, and outcome-linked learning. As workplaces grow more diverse and dynamic, upGrad’s insights serve as a clarion call for businesses to evolve their skilling strategies—smarter, not harder.
