AI RAISES CONCERNS OVER QUIET QUITTING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

September 23, 2026

NEW DELHI: Employee disengagement, often described as “quiet quitting”, is emerging as a concern in India, with workplace data showing that a large proportion of employees remain physically present at work while having limited psychological engagement with their jobs. Gallup reported that only 23% of Indian employees were engaged in 2025, while 59% were classified as “not engaged” and 18% as actively disengaged.

The issue is gaining attention alongside the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. A recent analysis published by ThePrint noted that AI tools can increase the productivity and quality of work performed by experienced professionals, but raised concerns that excessive dependence on such systems could reduce opportunities for younger employees to develop foundational expertise through early-career work.

India's technology sector illustrates the shift. According to TeamLease EdTech data cited in the analysis, employer interest in recruiting fresh IT talent fell from 67% in 2023 to 42–45% during 2024, amid uncertainty surrounding generative AI, before recovering to 81% earlier in 2026 and 76% in its latest survey. At the same time, demand has increasingly moved towards AI-related skills and the ability to integrate AI applications into existing business processes.

Researchers have also examined the relationship between AI-related workplace pressures and disengagement. A 2026 study of employees in India's technology-driven industries found an association between technology overload and quiet-quitting behaviour, with work-family conflict identified as one possible mechanism. Another study of Indian IT and IT-enabled-services professionals found evidence linking dimensions of AI anxiety and technostress with intentions towards quiet quitting.