Engineers Day: 67% of engineers say AI is reshaping their jobs, 85% plan to upskill
A survey reveals that 85 per cent plan to upskill in AI by 2026. AI, Machine Learning, data science, and cloud computing are top domains, with Python and NLP in high demand. Career growth is believed to be the primary motivation to focus on AI.
New Delhi: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, and the fact is that we have to upskill and adopt it. Engineering is considered one of the most sought-after professions in the country. With more than 2.5 million engineering graduates coming out of the institutions every year, a new survey report by edtech company Great Learning reveals interesting data on what a budding engineer should know.
According to the survey, 67 per cent of engineers say AI is reshaping their roles. It also revealed that 85 per cent of engineers plan to upskill in the fast-changing tech landscape by the financial year 2026. Interestingly, 86 per cent of engineers believe that one cannot sustain in the industry without upskilling.
The survey also reveals that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are at the top of the list of preferred domains. The other domains that are in demand include data science and analytics, software development, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The agentic AI, Python, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) have also emerged as the most in-demand.
Reason behind AI upskilling...
The survey says that the primary reason for engineering to upskill their AI skills is career growth. It also cited financial growth (20 per cent), job security (18 per cent), career stagnation (14 per cent), promotions (12 per cent) and new opportunities (12 per cent).
Upskilling Strategies: Short-term vs long-term programs
When it comes to how to upskill in AI, 66 per cent of engineers prefer to choose the short-term courses, which are less than six months. Only 5 per cent are willing to dedicate more than a year to learn. However, most of the engineers are planning to gain certificate programmes offered by Indian and foreign universities.
Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-Founder of Great Learning, added, "Being an engineer today is vastly different from two decades ago. Engineers are at the forefront of the massive shifts brought about by AI and emerging technologies. At Great Learning, more than half of our learners come from engineering backgrounds — a testament to how this community is embracing lifelong learning. By mastering next-generation skills, engineers are preparing not just for their own careers but also for driving India’s progress into a decade defined by deep tech and innovation.”