Many workers in India, including a significant portion of the blue-collar workforce, are embracing AI as a means to stay employable, grow in their careers, and secure future opportunities, according to The Work Ahead report by job listing platform Indeed.

The survey of more than 3,000 professionals across India, including both white and blue-collar workers, found that 43% feel confident about the technologies they expect to use in the next two to five years, such as Generative AI and Agentic AI.

Confidence is highest among mid-career professionals aged 35 to 54, nearly half of whom (49%) report being ready to navigate AI-integrated workplaces. Around 56% of mid-career professionals say they want significantly more training to stay future-ready.

Notably, nearly one-third of workers express concern about job security if they don’t keep up with technological change. 

Generative and agentic AI adoption

The survey shows that 34% of the respondents expect to use Generative AI tools frequently in the near future. A quarter of respondents are already anticipating the adoption of Agentic AI tools — AI systems that can autonomously complete complex tasks.

According to the survey, AI is making inroads even in traditionally hands-on roles. Among blue-collar workers surveyed, 70% say technology helps them at work, and two in 10 are already using Generative AI in their roles, from streamlining paperwork to improving customer service.

Need space, structure and support

The study notes that while the appetite for learning is high, workers also want employers to create space, structure and support to make the learning effective. Around 29% of the respondents noted that they are looking for access to self-paced online training programmes to upgrade their skills on their own terms.

“As we move ahead, upskilling in AI wouldn’t just be good practice; it’ll be the career accelerator. Workers who build AI skills will be better positioned for higher pay, promotions, and future roles, a trend that we already see picking up,” said Sashi Kumar, Head of Sales, Indeed India.