A recent study by Great Learning, a professional training and higher education company, shows that upskilling in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science has resulted in a 65 percent average salary hike for Indian working professionals.
The report, based on feedback from 1,000 professionals, provides an in-depth analysis of the long-term impact of upskilling on career growth.
The research demonstrates how lifelong learning has created significant career progression, enabling professionals to attain leadership roles, improve their income, and become more employable. Those in the entry-level stage, with 0-3 years of experience, experienced an astonishing salary increase of 139 percent. Professionals who were in their mid-career stages, possessing 3-8 years of experience, also witnessed a drastic 93 percent rise in salaries.
For 8-12 years of experience professionals, the average salary increase was 50 percent, and it was a relatively low increase of 41 percent for senior professionals with more than 12 years of experience.
The study also found that 80 percent of professionals saw a favourable career transition after upskilling themselves through AI/ML and data science upskilling programs. In just two years of upskilling, 74 percent of professionals got a promotion or shifted to different jobs. Of them, 69 percent shifted to new jobs within the same company or with a new company, while 31 percent experienced major improvements in their current jobs.
Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-Founder at Great Learning, stressed the potency of upskilling, adding, "Upskilling is a potent catalyst for creating meaningful career milestones and is no longer an option. It has empowered professionals to change careers, transition into managerial and leadership positions, and earn monetary benefits from their career development." He further added, "Whereas short-term returns are critical, the actual advantage of upskilling multiplies over a period of time, transforming professionals into specialists and coveted industry leaders."
In addition, the report noted that leadership positions doubled after upskilling, while team management roles increased by 80 percent. The revolutionary effect of upskilling is clear, with two in every three professionals moving into higher positions in their careers, highlighting the important role continuous learning has on career progression.
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