82% Indians prioritise work-life balance; office work barrier for upskilling: Report
Eighty-two per cent of Indians are prioritising work-life balance as much as money, thereby actively seeking better opportunities, highlights a report by Great Learning titled 'Upskilling Trends Report 2025–26'. The report reveals that 51% are actively seeking new roles in 2025 and 31% are passively exploring; however, professionals aged 45 to 60 are less inclined to switch roles, with only 39% actively looking.
High market competition and unmet salary expectations challenge 43% of job seekers, while 35% struggle with the need for additional skills or certifications. Notably, 26% of professionals aged 44–60 rank work-life balance higher than pay, highlighting a growing demand for flexibility and well-being at work.
The report shows 73% of professionals are confident about keeping their jobs this year, an 11% increase from last year. Job retention confidence varies by location and company size:
– 31% of Tier-1 city professionals are 'extremely confident' compared to 18% in Tier-2 cities.
– 85% of professionals in large companies (over 5,000 employees) are confident, versus 58% in small companies (under 50 employees).
Professionals are adapting to AI-driven changes, with 78% having a positive outlook on its career impact. MBA (89%) and B.Com graduates (84%) are more optimistic than BE/BTech graduates, likely due to recent IT sector trends where AI adoption has reduced hiring, is influencing tech professionals' views.
In FY 2026, 85% of professionals see upskilling as crucial for career growth, with 81% planning to invest in new technical skills. Key trends include:
– Tier-1 city professionals prioritise upskilling more than Tier-2 city professionals.
– Large firms (93%) emphasise upskilling more than small firms (75%).
– Top areas for upskilling are AI & Machine Learning, Software Development, and Cybersecurity.
– Professionals now prefer shorter certificate programs over Master's degrees, focusing on cost-effectiveness and immediate applicability.
Professionals are motivated to upskill for financial growth (23%) and promotions (15%). However, barriers persist:
– 37% lack time due to work demands.
– Women face more family responsibilities (25%) than men (20%).
– Early-career professionals struggle with affordability (8%).
These challenges highlight the need for accessible and efficient upskilling solutions. The findings reflect growing optimism around AI, increased confidence in job retention despite ongoing technological disruptions, and a strong willingness among professionals to explore new roles and invest in upskilling, especially in high-demand fields like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, stated the report.
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Comparisons with the past data are impossible, and should ideally not be used to quantify progress over time.
