Employees in India are far superior and way more optimistic than their global counterparts in many ways. For instance, India employees perceive digital and green skills to be more important than their global counterparts in the near future. A good percentage (79 per cent) of India employees are extremely confident that their employer will provide the tools, resources and opportunities needed to build upon their analytical and data skills within the next five years, compared to just 59 per cent of their global counterparts. These interesting facts have been revealed in a recent survey undertaken by PwC.
The ‘Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2023: India perspective’ report by PwC reveals that 78 per cent of employees in India feel that their employer will help them be more adaptable and flexible, while only 60 per cent of their global counterparts feel the same way.
About 75 per cent India employees are very sure that their employers will provide them the required resources to build upon their collaborative skills, compared to just 58 per cent of their global counterparts.
While 75 per cent India employees are sure their employers find it very important for them to build their core business skills, only 57 per cent employees, globally, feel the same way. When it comes to critical thinking skills, 78 per cent India employees express confidence in their employers doing their bit to help their employees build on the same, compared to just 59 per cent of their global counterparts. A good 77 per cent India employees compared to 58 per cent of their global counterparts believe building on digital skills is very important and are confident their employers will help them in this area. About 60 per cent employees in India compared to just 47 per cent, globally, think it extremely important to build on green skills and are confident their employers will help them do so.
Seventy nine per cent of employees in India and 50 per cent of their global counterparts think it extremely important to build leadership skills and express their confidence in their employers to help them build on these.
In terms of specialist technical or trade skills, 76 per cent India employees are confident their employers will provide them the necessary tools and resources to build on these skills in the next five years. However, only 60 per cent of their global counterparts share the same confidence.
Clearly, there is an urgency to upskill amongst India employees as is seen from the fact that 53 per cent of them feel that new skill development is the main reason for them to pick up a secondary job compared to 36 per cent of their global counterparts.
Only 63 per cent of India employees, say that they would take up secondary jobs just to earn more money, compared to 69 per cent of their global counterparts.
A good 53 per cent India employees would take up a secondary job if it offers them an opportunity to learn new skills, compared to just 36 per cent of their global counterparts. Around 34 per cent India employees would take up a secondary job if they find it rewarding, compared to 29 per cent of employees globally.
If a secondary job gives them greater flexibility and career options, 40 per cent of India employees would go for it compared to 29 per cent of their global counterparts.
Interestingly, 35 per cent India employees and 25 per cent global employees will opt for a secondary job as a career backup or safety net. About 26 per cent employees in India and 24 per cent, worldwide will consider a secondary job as a stepping stone to starting their own business reveals the PwC report.
Twenty-four per cent employees in India would go for a secondary job just to test out what it’s like to work in a different industry or role, compared to 21 per cent employees, globally. About 27 per cent India employees and 19 per cent global employees will accept a secondary job for additional job benefits, such as healthcare and employee discounts.
The survey shows that more India employees than their global counterparts feel digital and green skills are most important. A whopping 79 per cent of India employees, compared to just 57 per cent of their global counterparts, feel that it is essential to acquire digital skills over the next five years. About 61 per cent of India employees also feel that it is essential to adopt green skills, compared to the global average of 39 per cent.
While 79 per cent India employees give maximum importance to analytical and data skills over the next five years, only 58 per cent of employees, globally, accord the same importance. In India, 82 per cent employees say adaptability and flexibility are important skills to acquire over the next five years, globally, only 72 per cent employees feel so.
A majority of India employees (80 per cent) feel it is important to acquire collaborative skills in the next five years, while only 68 per cent of their global counterparts feel so.
A good 77 per cent of India employees think it necessary to acquire core business skills over the next five years, compared to just 53 per cent, globally. When it comes to acquiring critical-thinking skills too, more India employees (82 per cent) think it is important compared to their global counterparts (68 per cent). In terms of giving importance to digital skills, India employees (79 per cent) are way ahead of their counterparts worldwide (57 per cent).
Sixty-one per cent India employees compared to 39 per cent globally attach importance to green skills and think it’s important to acquire them over the next five years. While 82 per cent of India employees think leadership skills need to be acquired over the next five years, only 63 per cent employees globally feel so. In terms of specialist technical or trade skills too, a good 73 per cent India employees find them important compared to just 56 per cent globally.
