India Beats Global Average As AI Takes Over 37% Of Entry-Level Jobs

AI has already taken over more entry-level work in India than anywhere else on average. A new Cognizant-Pearson study finds that AI is now handling 37% of entry-level tasks in the country, ahead of the global average of 33%, at a moment when the debate over AI replacing jobs is only getting louder. That number isn’t an isolated blip either. The report finds that 96% of HR leaders believe the shape of fresher jobs will change completely over the next five years.

What’s Changing for Entry-Level Workers
Going forward, employees won’t just be executing tasks. The study points to a shift where workers spend more time supervising AI systems, verifying the decisions those systems make, and stepping in with human judgment exactly where it’s needed. This isn’t confined to engineering or IT roles either. Around 98% of companies say AI literacy will become essential even in traditionally non-technical functions like marketing, sales, legal, and operations.

Degrees Alone Won’t Cut It Anymore
The report is blunt about one thing, a degree by itself isn’t enough anymore. Demand is rising for skills like problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, the kind of capabilities that don’t show up on a transcript.
That’s also opening doors for a wider pool of candidates. As many as 67% of HR professionals say they’re now prioritizing candidates with liberal arts and humanities backgrounds, not just those from conventional technical streams.

Training Hasn’t Kept Pace With the Shift
Workers themselves seem to know what’s coming. The report finds 91% of employees are asking for AI training. But companies are lagging behind that demand, 63% of corporate training programs aren’t moving fast enough to keep up with how quickly the workplace is changing.