AI Takes On More Than a Third of Entry-Level Work in India, New Study Shows

New Delhi: Over one-third -- almost 37 per cent -- of entry-level tasks in India are already performed by AI, surpassing the global average of 33 per cent, according to a joint study by Cognizant and Pearson that cited a survey of HR leaders.

The study found that entry-level roles are evolving as organisations move from task execution toward working alongside AI systems.

The survey is based on 750 HR leaders across the US, UK and India. Cognizant and Pearson commissioned independent market research conducted by Wakefield Research in the three markets between March 23 and April 3, 2026, among 750 HR professionals at the director level and above, at companies with at least 1,000 employees.

"...the study finds that 37 per cent of entry-level tasks in India are already performed by AI, compared to a 33 per cent global average, with 18 per cent of HR leaders reporting that AI now handles half or more of entry-level work, signalling accelerated disruption in one of the country's largest workforce segments," it said.

As many as 96 per cent of HR leaders surveyed expect entry-level roles to evolve into positions where employees supervise or manage AI systems within the next five years.

"Nearly all HR professionals (94 per cent) expect AI will generate new entry-level roles in the next five years that didn't exist before," it said.

More than 90 per cent of respondents say middle managers are instrumental to redefining job roles as AI changes the day-to-day work of team members, underlining the significance of middle managers in AI adoption.

Nearly all HR professionals (98 per cent) are increasing focus on AI skills even for non-technical roles. Employees in these roles are increasingly expected to manage AI outputs, validate decisions, interpret results and apply human judgment, according to the study.

"In India, 80 per cent of organisations report that AI is enabling employees to focus on higher-value work, compared to 77 per cent globally, reflecting the growing shift toward more strategic responsibilities," said the study by Cognizant and Pearson.

Rajesh Varrier, President – Global Operations and Chairman and Managing Director, Cognizant India, believes the country is at the forefront of how AI is transforming entry-level work, with organisations already embedding AI into day-to-day operations at scale.

"We are seeing a fundamental redesign of roles, where early-career talent is expected to work alongside AI and focus on higher-value outcomes. This shift underscores the necessity for extensive reskilling and improved managerial effectiveness, both of which are key in an economy increasingly shaped by AI," Varrier said.

As work evolves, the most successful organisations will focus less on replacing tasks and more on building the capabilities that help humans and AI work together, Ali Bebo, Chief Human Resources Officer at Pearson, said, adding that the future belongs to organisations that combine AI innovation with a deep understanding of how people learn, develop and apply new skills in the real world.