99% of Indian employers prioritise GenAI skills over experience, report finds

India’s job market is undergoing a seismic shift as employers increasingly favour skills over traditional qualifications. According to Coursera’s Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025, 99% of Indian employers have either adopted or are actively exploring skills-based hiring to address persistent talent shortages. A key driver of this change is the rise of micro-credentials—short, targeted programmes that provide verifiable skills aligned with specific job roles.

The report, based on surveys conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, captures insights from over 2,000 employers and students globally, including India. It reveals that nearly all Indian employers (95%) are more likely to hire candidates with a micro-credential in Generative AI (GenAI), with 9 in 10 stating that such hires demonstrate stronger on-the-job performance.