Half of India’s Workforce Remained Untrained Over the Past Year: upGrad Enterprise Report

New Delhi : upGrad Enterprise, the corporate skilling arm of Asia’s leading integrated lifelong learning company, upGrad, has launched a groundbreaking industry report titled “Skilling Smarter: A Strategic Guide to Training Across Generations.”

Based on insights from over 12,300 professionals across diverse sectors, the report reveals a growing disconnect between employee needs and existing corporate training frameworks — primarily due to the evolving expectations of a multigenerational workforce.

Although upskilling is widely recognized as essential for business success, the report found that 50% of India’s workforce received no training in FY 2024–25, while 75% of employees only participated in skill development when compelled to do so.

Nearly 1 in 4 workplaces in India still lack formal skilling strategies, resulting in unequal access to training and a widening skills gap. The findings indicate that current training models fall short in personalization, accessibility, and relevance — whether it’s for the pragmatic Gen X, the independent Gen Y, or the digital-first Gen Z.

 Key Findings Include:

• Lack of formal strategies at 1 in 4 workplaces: In FY 2024–25, 50% of professionals received no training; only 16% participated in quarterly learning sessions.

• Compulsion vs. Motivation: 75% of employees only trained when forced; top barriers included irrelevance (51%), limited access (43%), and lack of time (42%).

• Mismatch in Priorities: While organizations invest in technical and industry-focused skills, employees want to learn leadership, soft skills, and strategic thinking.

• One Workforce, Multiple Learners:

  • Gen X prefers expert-led training.

  • Gen Y values structured flexibility.

  • Gen Z seeks on-demand, immersive learning.

  • Despite this, 63% of HR leaders do not customize programs by generation.

• Learning Design vs. Learner Preference: 80% of Gen Z employees are trained under their managers, yet nearly 50% prefer self-paced or third-party learning formats.

• Low Investment, Low Returns: 60% of HR leaders allocate less than 5% of HR budgets to skilling; 61.5% of CHROs report no measurable impact.

• Format Fatigue: 50% of Gen Z equate digital modules with skilling, but 45% want more interactive and real-world learning experiences.