AI hits engineers hard: 67% say jobs are changing, 85% turn to upskilling

Engineering was once considered a safe haven, a career that offered both a lucrative pay cheque and high societal respect. However, as the plot twists, artificial intelligence has entered the frame, flipping the script entirely.

With layoffs in tech firms dominating headlines and engineers navigating a complex professional labyrinth, AI has fundamentally altered the landscape, thrusting them onto an uncharted path at the intersection of opportunity and upheaval.Yet, uncomfortable as it may be, AI is here to stay. No longer confined to conventional workflows, engineers face a reality in which the pace of technological change threatens to outstrip established skill sets.

In this environment, career security can no longer rely on experience alone; it demands deliberate reinvention, adaptability, and a relentless commitment to continuous learning.Amid this paradigm shift, the profession is responding with urgency. A recent survey by Great Learning underscores the scale of the challenge: 67% of Indian engineers report that AI is already reshaping their roles, while 85% recognise that upskilling is essential to remain relevant.

These numbers are far more than statistics—they offer a stark, unvarnished view of the workforce today. The message is clear: yesterday’s competencies will not suffice in meeting tomorrow’s demands.

Reinvention as a strategic imperative

Engineers are increasingly treating skill acquisition as a strategic investment rather than a supplementary activity. The survey reveals that 85% plan to upskill in FY26, focusing on domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity.

Within these fields, specialisations like Generative AI, Agentic AI, Python, and Natural Language Processing have emerged as critical differentiators.

This focus illustrates a shift from reactive learning to proactive career management, an acknowledgment that the ability to adapt is now a defining feature of professional success.

The new paradigm of learning

The methodology of learning is evolving as swiftly as the technologies themselves.

Two-thirds of engineers prefer short-term programs under six months, eschewing traditional Master’s or Doctorate paths in favour of accelerated, certificate-based courses from reputed Indian and global institutions. This trend reflects not only a desire for rapid upskilling but also a recognition that organizations are demanding immediate job-ready capabilities in a landscape dominated by AI adoption and technological disruption.

Career mobility and evolving expectations

Reinvention is not limited to skills alone; it extends to the very nature of employment. 85% of engineers are contemplating job changes, driven by concerns over work-life balance (33%), job security (18%), and stagnation (14%). The workforce is increasingly fluid, willing to seek environments that match both their evolving skill sets and aspirations, highlighting a broader recalibration of expectations in the professional sphere.

Engineers shaping India’s technological future

The broader narrative emerging from this transformation is one of agency and foresight. By embracing AI, cloud, and data-centric skills, Indian engineers are positioning themselves as architects of the country’s deep tech trajectory, rather than passive participants. The profession is collectively signaling that disruption is not merely a threat; it is a catalyst for innovation, growth, and reinvention.As India enters an era defined by technological acceleration, engineers are demonstrating that proactive reinvestment in learning, coupled with adaptability, will define the leaders of tomorrow. The challenge is systemic, the stakes are high, and the response, measured, deliberate, and forward-looking, is redefining what it means to be an engineer in the 21st century.