India’s Gen Z races ahead in AI adoption, but money worries persist: Deloitte

India’s Gen Z and millennial workforce is rapidly moving from learning artificial intelligence (AI) tools to actively applying them at work, with confidence levels significantly higher than global averages, according to a new survey by Deloitte. Despite optimism around technology and career growth, the survey highlighted mounting financial pressure among young Indians. 

The 15th edition of Deloitte’s Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey released on Wednesday found that 85% of Gen Z respondents in India and 91% of millennials said they are confident using AI in their roles. The survey covered 806 respondents in India, including 506 Gen Zs and 300 millennials. 

The report said AI adoption is becoming central to workplace behaviour among young professionals in India, with more than 90% of respondents using AI for learning and development, career guidance, and even managing work-related stress. 

“Gen AI and Agentic have a pivotal role to play across business domains. Equipping the workforce to add their human perspective to artificial intelligence will ensure that everyone can stay ahead of the game,” said Deepti Sagar, Chief People and Experience Officer, Deloitte India. She added that organisations now need “role-specific, immersive, comprehensive AI upskilling programs” to help employees build specialised AI capabilities suited to their functions. 

The survey also showed strong demand for further AI training. Around 54% of Gen Z respondents and 60% of millennials expressed interest in new AI learning opportunities while 32% of Gen Zs and 35% of millennials said they had already completed AI-related training. 

According to Sagar, companies should move beyond generic training modules and integrate AI skills into career progression systems. “Training shouldn’t be an end in itself. Companies can be incubators of innovation by having an AI-skills-based internal credentialling system,” she said. 

The report comes at a time when companies across sectors are increasing investments in AI-led automation and digital transformation, creating both new opportunities and anxieties for younger workers. 

Financial pressures remain high 

About 54% of Gen Z respondents and 44% of millennials said they had delayed major life decisions due to financial constraints. Home affordability emerged as a major concern, with 37% of Gen Z respondents saying they could not afford a house, compared to 20% of millennials. 

The survey also found that unemployment remains the top concern for both generations in India. Around 27% of Gen Zs identified unemployment as their biggest worry, while 34% of millennials cited it as their leading concern. 

Purpose-driven workforce 

The study found that young Indian professionals are increasingly prioritising purpose and values while choosing employers. 

Nearly all respondents linked purpose to job satisfaction while 48% of Gen Zs and 41% of millennials said they would reject an employer if its values did not align with their personal beliefs. 

The survey also showed strong leadership aspirations among India’s young workforce. Around 96% of Gen Z respondents and 93% of millennials expressed interest in senior leadership roles, although only a small proportion identified leadership as their primary career goal. 

Deloitte said Indian respondents differed from global peers in how they viewed career growth, with many valuing both steady progression and fast-paced advancement simultaneously. 

On wellbeing, the report found that while most respondents rated their mental health positively, workplace and personal stress remain widespread. About 24% of Gen Z respondents and 18% of millennials said they continue to experience stress due to professional and personal pressures. 

Globally, the survey covered 22,595 respondents across 44 countries between November 2025 and January 2026.