Indians willing to spend nearly Rs 2 lakh annually out of pocket for upskilling: Survey
education, showing the growing appetite for upskilling to suit industry demands, finds a new survey.
The survey of professionals from a diverse set of sectors in the country found that one in every two Indians are ready to fund further education for themselves, their children or their family within the upcoming 12 months.
The Emeritus Global Workplace Skills Study 2023 from professional education Emeritus firm shows that education ranks high among Indians’ priorities even as the survey found two in three respondents admitting to spending their money cautiously focusing on essentials such as healthcare, medicine, groceries, etc., amid job layoffs and salary cuts globally.
The trend of Indians spending on further education out of pocket stood out from most other parts of the world, where upskilling is being funded largely by organisations. The main motivations for Indian professionals to pursue further education included increased job security, a rise in self-confidence, developing leadership skills, and staying up-to-date with industry knowledge.
The emphasis on continued learning in Indian society was also visible from the number of hours that professionals are investing into upskilling.
The study found that respondents are willing to commit an average of 11 hours on a weekly basis to further education. Most Indians, however, prefer short-duration programmes for upskilling.
On average, professionals in the country were found willing to commit to nearly five months for an upskilling programme.
The study highlighted that personalised career plans, guaranteed internships, networking opportunities, and career workshop benefits are more likely to motivate Indian consumers to pay extra for a programme. About seven in 10
