MC Interview | Talent in Indian metros increasingly shifting career trajectories: LinkedIn

Ruchee Anand, Senior Director, Talent and Learning Solutions, LinkedIn India

Career changes in India's job market are rising as 85 percent of professionals prioritise transferable skills and non-linear paths, according to Ruchee Anand, senior director of talent and learning solutions at LinkedIn India.

In Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai, professionals from management consulting, staffing & recruiting, and computer & network security are shifting to IT, while IT experts explore opportunities in banking and legal services, highlighting cross-industry career transitions, Anand said in an exclusive interview with Moneycontrol.

Edited excerpts:

Despite a setback in bulk hiring, there is demand for niche skills. Which were the top in-demand jobs and skills in the past six months?

The future of work and the future of learning are converging. Future professionals will navigate a more human-centric work environment. Our "Future of Work: State of AI @ Work" report shows Indians are preparing by learning both hard and soft skills equally.

Top LinkedIn learning courses in India focusing on hard skills include learning Python, project management foundation, and generative AI, while the most popular soft skills courses are speaking confidently and effectively, and communication foundations. We’re also seeing soft skills like communication, analytics, and sales as key requirements in AI-related roles across the country.

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In India, the most in-demand AI-related roles in LinkedIn job postings are a mix of technical and non-technical occupations. Technical positions like software engineer, data scientist, and Java software engineer are highly sought after, while non-technical roles include business analyst, campaign specialist, and sales manager.

What’s been the demand and supply for such talent in the same period?

Indian talent has been proactively upskilling and the growing Indian economy continues to create opportunities across new fields and new roles for its burgeoning talent. According to LinkedIn’s latest Global Talent Trends report, job posts mentioning AI or generative AI have more than doubled (2.5x) in the last two years. In response to this, applications for such jobs have grown by 2.1x in India over the last two years compared to job posts that don't mention AI.

In India, the industries where we’re seeing the greatest demand for talent with AI skills and AI literacy are professional services, technology, information and media, and financial services.

Recent mass layoffs have led some people to rethink their choices. Is there a cross-industry movement? Can we get some data points?

Career pivots have long been a part of India's dynamic labour market, but today, they're on the rise as professionals look to chart their unique career paths. Unlike the more straightforward career paths of the past, 85 percent of professionals in India now value transferable skills and embrace non-linear career trajectories. This shift reflects a growing desire to pursue diverse jobs at different stages, with 82 percent finding it easier to change careers today compared to two decades ago.

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In cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai, professionals from various industries are pivoting their careers. Individuals from management consulting, staffing & recruiting, and computer & network security are transitioning to the IT sector, while IT professionals are exploring new opportunities in banking and legal services.

How has LinkedIn’s business grown in India in the past year? What was the impact of the ongoing slowdown in the job market?

LinkedIn has crossed 1 billion members globally and our growth in India has been vital to this achievement. With more than 115 million members, India continues to be our largest market in APAC, and the fastest market in terms of member engagement globally. LinkedIn's revenue in India has grown nearly 4x in the past five years.

Notably, 70 percent of new business growth for LinkedIn Talent Solutions in India has come from non-IT companies, showcasing the diversification of our customer base, including businesses from tier-2 and 3 markets.

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With jobs transforming and AI progressively automating various aspects of work, staying ahead is no longer an advantage – it's a necessity. Embracing a skills-first mindset and making equal investments in hard and soft skills will be the most effective strategy for businesses and professionals to not just survive but also thrive in the future of work.

There is increased awareness of upskilling and reskilling. How does it reflect on demand for LinkedIn Learning?

Professionals today recognise that staying relevant means future-proofing with skills. Globally, paid learners have grown by 270 percent since January 2017. Businesses are investing in continuous learning, with 41.6 million seats purchased for employees on LinkedIn Learning. In India, we've seen a 1.1x increase in LinkedIn learners who are spending 1.8x more time learning since September 2021. Gen Z Indians are leading the learning wave, spending 73 percent more time learning on LinkedIn compared to other generations.

We're enhancing access with generative AI tools in Learning Hub, offering real-time, personalised advice and content recommendations from our library of more than 20,000 courses. We're piloting this experience, starting with leadership and management skills and providing free access to popular AI courses until December 15, 2023.

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