Hyderabad: Pearson, the world’s leading lifelong learning company, has unveiled a new research report from its Skills Outlook series titled Solving the Tech Talent Gap from Within. The report explores how Indian companies can unlock the full potential of their existing workforce through strategic job redesign, rather than replacing employees with newly skilled candidates.Amid rapid advancements in automation and AI, particularly within the technology sector, the study calls for organizations to rethink their workforce development strategies. It promotes a more sustainable approach focusing on upskilling current employees and aligning their roles with evolving technological demands.The report examines five of the most common and value-generating tech roles in India, analyzing how these jobs are likely to evolve over the next five years. It reveals that technology, especially tools like LLM-powered chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), could save professionals up to 17 hours per month. This equates to nearly half a working day each week time that can be reinvested in higher-value, strategic tasks through effective upskilling.Vinay Kumar Swamy, Country Head of Pearson India, emphasized that India’s digital transformation requires bold, forward-thinking measures. “Workforce development can no longer be considered an afterthought it must become a core business strategy,” he said. Swamy added that by redesigning roles instead of replacing employees, companies can build agile, innovative, and future-ready teams, essential for India to maintain its edge in the global tech landscape. The report also prompts a broader re-evaluation of job design and task allocation. It highlights potential time savings of 2.5 to 3.9 hours per worker in tech roles, encouraging employers to redefine what constitutes “core” human work and to more thoughtfully allocate responsibilities between humans and machines. This shift can help address talent shortages internally, while boosting job satisfaction and security for current employees.In parallel with national efforts, Pearson is deepening its engagement at the regional level, particularly in Telangana. Through partnerships with academic institutions, corporations, and government bodies, Pearson aims to align with the state’s educational and employment goals.A significant part of this regional initiative is the expansion of BTEC qualifications, which integrate practical and theoretical learning to meet the evolving needs of the modern workforce. Pearson has also established a robust local network offering PTE (Pearson Test of English) services key for students aiming to study abroad and has opened a centrally located test center in Hyderabad. Furthermore, Pearson collaborates with over 100 higher education institutions in Telangana, including Indian School of Business (ISB), Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Malla Reddy University, and Mahindra University**, to support a broad range of programs across disciplines. The MePro English language development program is another cornerstone of Pearson’s regional strategy. Implemented in multiple colleges across Telangana, MePro enhances students’ skills in listening, reading, writing, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary. Designed with both academic and professional contexts in mind, it equips learners with global communication and employability competencies. Pearson’s report and its ongoing initiatives underscore the urgent need for India’s industries and educational institutions to adopt forward-looking strategies that align human capability with technological progress. Through job redesign and regional skilling programs, Pearson is not only addressing current talent gaps but also laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and sustainable workforce development model. As India strides toward becoming a global digital leader, such visionary approaches will help shape the future of work.The article is written by Hariom Chauhan and Prabhash Kumar, interns from Hyderabad Central University at Deccan Chronicle.
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