According to a research conducted by Gallup in partnership with Amazon Web Services, workers using digital skills have contributed Rs 10.9 trillion ($507.9 billion) to India’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These skills encompass cloud architecture, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software development.
Gallup surveyed 2,005 working professionals and 769 employers in India for their research titled “Asia Pacific Digital Skills Study: The Economic Benefits of a Tech-Savvy Workforce.” Both private and public sector companies were interviewed.
The research revealed that 80% of organizations in India with digitally skilled workers reported higher annual revenue growth. However, 88% of these organizations faced challenges in hiring such workers. Additionally, workers who utilized digital skills at their jobs earned 92% higher salaries compared to those without similar educational backgrounds.
In addition to higher salaries, workers with digital skills also expressed greater job satisfaction. 91% of those with advanced digital skills reported job satisfaction, while 74% of those with intermediate skills and 70% of those with basic digital skills shared the same sentiment.
The research also asked employers about their prediction for the emerging technology that would become the standard in the future. Options included AI, edge and quantum computing, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. 92% of the respondents believed that at least one of these technologies would become the norm over time. The most favored choice among the options was 5G, which received 78% of the votes.
Dr. Jonathan Rothwell, Gallup’s principal economist, reflected on the research saying, “People in India are increasingly adopting digital practices in both their professional and personal lives. This research demonstrates the immense economic value that digital skills bring to India at an individual, organizational, and macroeconomic level.”