New Delhi, June 17: Recent reports indicate that short-term AI courses may not be sufficient for job seekers. Currently, around 14% of job vacancies in the country directly demand artificial intelligence (AI) skills, and this trend is on the rise. However, a joint report by NASSCOM and Indeed reveals that approximately 70% of the AI-related courses available in the market are misleading.
Companies are not willing to wait for candidates to complete a four-year degree; instead, they are hiring individuals who have completed fast-track courses of 3 to 6 months. The report warns job seekers to be cautious of fraudulent boot camps that only sell certificates. The market is primarily valuing fast-track courses that culminate in a portfolio of 3 to 4 live, deployed public projects.
The relevance of AI courses can be understood in two parts:
First: Tool-based skills (short-term): Courses teaching tools like ChatGPT may lose relevance in less than six months as AI continues to simplify these tasks.
Second: Core principles (long-term): Courses focusing on fundamental principles such as data literacy, ethical AI, problem framing, and AI system direction will remain relevant for 3 to 5 years or more.
Dainik Bhaskar spoke with Suchita Dutta, Executive Director of the Indian Staffing Federation (ISF), regarding the hidden conditions behind ‘100% job guarantee’ claims. Here are some insights:
1. Are short-term courses enough for jobs? Absolutely not. The market rewards those with a foundational traditional degree along with practical AI understanding and a portfolio of live projects.
2. Are ‘100% job guarantee’ claims valid? Such claims often hide stringent conditions like minimum salary (usually ₹3-4 lakhs annually), mandatory attendance, and relocation. Many courses still teach outdated content.
3. Is there a salary advantage for those with AI skills? Yes, there is a significant demand for AI skills in the market. Data shows that the average salary for jobs requiring AI skills has increased from a 25% premium last year to 56% now.
4. What is the salary trend in generative AI, LLM engineering, and MLOps? These modern fields offer substantial premium skills and live project experience, with mid-level roles providing annual packages of around ₹18-35 lakhs.
5. Which jobs are most affected? Estimates suggest that AI is reducing entry-level roles by 20 to 25%. There has been a month-on-month decline of 23% and a year-on-year decline of 44% in entry-level appointments, particularly impacting routine software testing, basic customer support, and junior coding roles. According to the IMF, generative AI affects 26% of India’s workforce, with a direct job loss risk for 12%.
Lastly, the interview process has evolved; coding tests are no longer the norm. Employers now assess problem-solving abilities, decision-making skills, and the ability to provide the right prompts.
For those looking to start learning AI, it is recommended to begin with ‘AI for Everyone’ by Andrew Ng, available on Coursera for free (a certificate incurs a fee). This course, lasting only 6 to 10 hours, will provide foundational knowledge about how AI works without any coding requirements.
AI tools are already transforming various sectors, and the demand for hybrid skills—combining traditional degrees with AI tool knowledge—is increasing. According to NASSCOM’s 2024 report, 82% of BCA and MCA graduates lack formal training in AI tools.