Udemy has released a research report, “Ready or Not: The Emerging Gap Between Awareness and Action in AI Transformation.” Drawing on a new survey conducted by YouGov, the report exposes stress factors for workers across four major economies, including the US, UK, India, and Brazil. The India-based employees who were surveyed, representing 18-70 year old internet users, are very open to using AI at work, with nearly three-quarters already leveraging it in their roles.
Yet, this strong enthusiasm contrasts sharply with a lack of both personal confidence and organizational readiness to help workers translate interest into capability. Only three-in-ten India-based professionals feel confident in their AI skills, and 61% professionals strongly or somewhat agree that their employers don’t provide clear ways to use AI for their day-to-day tasks. Compounding this challenge, most employees in India believe it is their personal responsibility to acquire AI skills, highlighting a widening enablement gap. By addressing psychological and institutional upskilling barriers now, workers and organizations alike will be primed to take full advantage of AI’s opportunities and ensure business durability.
“We’re witnessing one of the most dangerous disconnects in modern workforce history,” said Hugo Sarrazin, President and CEO at Udemy. “Workers understand AI is transformative, but psychological biases and institutional barriers may be preventing them from taking the very actions that could secure their futures. In other words, the AI train is at the station, but people are hesitating to board, uncertain of the journey and unprepared for what lies ahead. Organizations that help employees overcome these blind spots now will have a massive competitive advantage, so they aren’t left waiting on the tracks when AI’s impact truly hits.”
The report also exposes a widening perception gap between what employees believe matters for employability and what hiring managers are looking for. While 67% of India-based employees view a college degree as necessary to perform the work of entry-level employees, only 32% of hiring managers in India prioritize college degrees when hiring entry-level workers– statistically tied with demonstrated skill set as the most important factor.
“The disconnect between what hiring managers seek and what employees prioritize is becoming more evident. In India, only a small share of graduates find jobs that truly match their qualifications, not due to a lack of potential, but because the skills hiring managers need are evolving faster than our systems can adapt. In the current turbulent job market, hands-on capabilities are becoming far more valuable than degrees alone. Employers need to create more space for on-the-job learning, while graduates and job seekers must take charge of their own growth. The future will favour those who keep learning, adapting, and building real-world skills,” says Vinay Pradhan, Country Manager & Senior Director — India & South Asia, Udemy.
Udemy identified key insights for leaders looking to build upskilling seamlessly into workflows and inspire teams to act:
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Skepticism looms due to a lack of clarity. In most countries surveyed, data show potential evidence for optimism bias, or believing any negative impact of AI on jobs or wages is less likely to personally affect individuals. However, the picture in India is more cautious. India-based employees hold a mixed outlook on AI, with 32% seeing both benefits and risks in their own lives, 45% expecting it to improve their lives, and 34% believing it will benefit society. This reflects cautious optimism toward AI’s personal and societal impact. To address this skepticism and provide clarity, leaders can share specific examples of how AI has affected similar industries and roles.
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Training efforts need to catch up. In India, many workers say they lack consistent guidance or hands-on learning in their day-to-day work to effectively use AI. With tech innovations like Model Context Protocol, organizations can embed learning directly into the flow of work to make AI training both accessible and applicable.
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Skills’ blind spots extend far beyond AI. Across all countries surveyed, hiring managers identified communication and other soft/adaptive skills as the top deficiency in entry-level workers. But only a minority of entry-level workers believe they lack these critical skill sets. With all countries surveyed ranking demonstrated skills as the top factor in hiring entry-level talent, workers must practice these skills and fix perception gaps to stay competitive in a crowded job market.
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There’s opportunity for growth. Even as the half-life of skills continues to shrink, professionals in the US, UK, and India remain more focused on hobbies and financial goals than on developing career capabilities. Yet, 45% of India-based employees believe AI will improve their lives. This optimism shows potential for change and highlights that, with the right upskilling pathways, individuals would prioritize growth and would be able to adapt to future work.
