Skilling Smarter: A strategic guide to training across generations

50% of India’s workforce skipped workplace skilling programs last year

Not because they didn’t want to skill, but because they couldn’t. 66% cited poor access, while 34% pointed to content irrelevance.

This report draws insights from over 12,000 professionals across roles, industries, and generations to unpack where skilling strategies are falling short and how leaders can respond.

Inside the report you’ll find,

• What professionals really think about workplace skilling 

• Key motivators that drive meaningful learning 

• How Gen X, Y, and Z want to be skilled—and where preferences diverge 

• The biggest disconnects between strategy and learner needs 

• What leading employers think about the ROI gap

Top 5 findings from the field,

1. Training access is broken 
   50% of professionals didn’t train at all in FY 2024-25. Only 16% claimed to have upskilled quarterly.

2. Mandates ≠ motivation
   75% admit to training only when required. Relevance (51%), access (43%) and time (42%) are the biggest barriers.

3. Learner priorities aren’t being met
   Employers focus on technical and industry skills whereas employees seek support in developing the right soft skills, strategic thinking, and personal development.

4. One workforce. Many learning styles
   Gen X wants expert-led skilling. Gen Y prefers structured, peer-driven formats. Gen Z expects immersive, on-demand learning. Yet 63% of HR leaders don’t tailor training by generation.

5. The ROI equation is flawed
   60% of organizations report investing less than 5% of HR budgets in skilling initiatives and an equal number of CHROs (61.5%) report no measurable ROI—suggesting a relook at the way businesses perceive skilling.

What top voices in this space have to say,

“A continuous career conversation that facilitates alignment between business priorities and employee aspirations is an integral part of any career success story within the organization…Until and unless we don’t link learning programs to individual career aspirations, I think these become a force-feed.”

Ajanta Chatterjee
Group Head, Talent Management,
L&D, Culture & DEI,
JSW Steel