The subject of AI and ML is constantly evolving, resulting in a plethora of AI and ML career opportunities across a variety of industries. Professionals that can adapt and provide new solutions will be well-positioned to benefit from these shifts. As businesses continue to integrate AI into their operations, the demand for workers with technical and problem-solving skills will grow.

According to a survey issued on Tuesday, Indian graduates show a high aptitude for employment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Indian graduates have the highest employment rate in AI and ML, at 46.1%, according to Mercer Mettl’s report.

The research, which includes data from over 2,700 institutions and over 1 million students, depicts a complicated landscape characterized by both hopeful flexibility and persisting skill disparities.

It also discovered that 50% of Indian graduates have the soft skills necessary for AI/GenAI collaboration, albeit they need to improve in areas such as creativity (44.3% employability). Communication skills (55.1%), critical thinking (54.6%), and leadership (54.2%) are among the strongest domains. With a 46% employability rate, learning agility remains critical for navigating the changing technological landscape.

Furthermore, the survey found that graduates from Tier 1 colleges have the highest employability rate (48.4%), followed by those from Tier 2 (46.1%) and Tier 3 (43.4%) universities. However, opportunity exists at all levels, particularly in specialized technology sectors. Tier 2 graduates perform well in UI/UX development roles, with a 58.3% employability rate.

Delhi has the highest employability rate (53.4%), followed by Himachal Pradesh and Punjab (51.1%). Uttarakhand and Jharkhand both did well, with rates of 50% and 49.6%, respectively.

Notably, the survey found that male and female graduates in AI, machine learning, and data science were equally employable. However, inconsistencies were discovered in software testing.

“In 2025, the employment rate for Indian graduates is 42.6%, a modest decrease from 44.3% in 2023, owing to changing industry requirements. However, tremendous progress has been achieved in technical employability, as colleges and students increasingly focus on building skills that are market-ready,” stated Siddhartha Gupta, President of Mercer India.

“On the other hand, developing certain non-technical and soft skills is a more complex learning curve that frequently necessitates longer time to acquire. “This data clearly highlights these trends,” he said.