Senior professionals are increasingly driving India’s artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling momentum, with individuals having over 15 years of experience accounting for more than 40% of GenAI and AI/ML enrolments in 2025, according to insights released by global edtech firm Great Learning. The findings, based on behavioural data from over one million learners, indicate that AI skills are now viewed as critical for leadership effectiveness and enterprise decision-making.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning emerged as the most in-demand domain, recording a 17% year-on-year increase in demand, followed by Data Science, Software Development, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity. While freshers and early-career professionals (0–3 years’ experience) contributed 48% of total enrolments, mid-career and senior professionals also recorded strong participation, highlighting upskilling as a requirement across the professional lifecycle. Notably, 77% of learners came from non-IT/ITES sectors such as BFSI, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, and pharma, with one-third of AI learners belonging to non-STEM educational backgrounds.
Upskilling demand remained metro-led, with 68% of long-term course enrolments coming from Tier-1 cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, while Tier-2 participation grew strongly in cities including Coimbatore, Kochi, and Madurai.
Kolkata is witnessing steady growth in AI and data-driven upskilling demand, particularly among BFSI, manufacturing, and services-sector professionals. Training providers report rising corporate-sponsored enrolments and increasing participation from mid-career managers, signalling eastern India’s expanding role in India’s enterprise-focused digital skills transformation.
