AI to transform 38 million jobs in India by 2030

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to reshape 38 million jobs in India by 2030, driving a 2.61% productivity boost in the organised sector, with an additional 2.82% potential in the unorganised sector through generative AI (GenAI), according to an EY India report, “How much productivity can GenAI unlock in India? The AIdea of India: 2025.”

The report highlights that 24% of tasks across industries can be fully automated, while 42% can be enhanced, saving 8-10 hours per week for knowledge workers. Key sectors expected to see the most significant productivity gains include services, due to its higher labor share in gross output, with manufacturing and construction experiencing a smaller impact. 

Among business processes, call center management is projected to witness an 80% productivity boost, followed by software development (61%), content development (45%), customer services (44%), and sales/marketing (41%). IT/ITeS could see a 19% rise, while healthcare and banking/insurance may gain 13% and 8-9%, respectively.

Despite AI’s potential, the report underscores challenges in adoption. Only 15% of enterprises have implemented GenAI in production, and 36% are yet to begin experimentation. A lack of in-house talent is a key barrier, with only 3% of enterprises reporting sufficient AI expertise. The report also stressed the importance of addressing AI policy, data protection, and intellectual property to maximise economic growth.

While adoption remains nascent, falling AI costs and improved ROI measurement are expected to accelerate implementation in industries such as financial services, healthcare, retail, and next-gen sectors like biotech and renewables.