India Skills Report 2025

The India Skills Report 2025, prepared by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in collaboration with Wheebox and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), reveals important trends about the employability of Indian graduates and the country’s role in the global workforce.

Key-takeaways from the Report

• Employability of Indian Graduates: 55% of Indian graduates are expected to be globally employable by 2025, an increase from 51.2% in 2024. This shows a positive trend in the country’s ability to prepare graduates for international job markets.
  • The employability rate of Indian graduates has increased by 7% this year, reaching 54.81% in 2025, compared to 51.25% in 2024. This is attributed to government initiatives, such as Skill India Mission and NEP 2020, and institutional efforts to align education with industry needs.
• Most Employable Graduates:
  • Management graduates have the highest employability at 78%.
  • Engineering graduates follow with 71.5% employability.
  • MCA (Master of Computer Applications) graduates have 71% employability.
  • Science graduates have 58% employability.
• Regional Trends in Employability: Kerala has an employability rate of 71%, ranking 5th among all Indian states. The states ahead of Kerala are Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi are emerging as major hubs for skilled talent. Pune, Bengaluru, and Mumbai are leading cities that provide a large pool of employable workers.
• Gender Disparity: The employability rate for men is expected to rise to 53.5% in 2025, up from 51.8% in 2024. However, women’s employability is projected to decline from 50.9% in 2024 to 47.5% in 2025, highlighting a gender gap that needs attention.
• Internship Interest: 93% of students surveyed expressed interest in internships, indicating a strong desire for practical work experience alongside academic learning.
• Hiring Intent for 2025: The report also indicates a 9.8% hiring intent for FY 2026 across industries. Global capability centres, heavy engineering, and banking sectors have the highest hiring intent, with 12% in these sectors.
• India’s Global Talent Mobility: India is emerging as a key player in global talent mobility, with a focus on quality skill training to improve the employability of graduates. The skilled Indian workforce is contributing to sectors like technology, healthcare, renewable energy, and AI, driving global innovation and economic growth.
• Strategic Vision for 2030: The report outlines strategies to strengthen India’s talent pool, such as:
  • Expanding vocational training in high-demand fields like AI, cybersecurity, and green energy.
  • Promoting cross-border collaborations to address skill shortages in countries with aging populations.
  • Integrating technology (AI, automation) in education and skill assessments.
  • Fostering diversity and inclusion, with an emphasis on improving female participation in the workforce.