Bloomberg.com · 17 Sep, 06:59 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

India Outsourcing Shifts Upmarket as AI Reshapes Jobs, ING Says

ING reports that India’s outsourcing sector is shifting upmarket as artificial intelligence reshapes the global labour landscape.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

25–40%salary premium for professionals with applied AI skills

11xgrowth in AI job adverts since 2019

66%of leaders won't hire without AI literacy

20days to your first credential

The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

ING reports that India’s outsourcing sector is shifting upmarket as artificial intelligence reshapes the global labour landscape. Rather than merely offloading routine tasks, companies are increasingly engaging Indian talent for higher-value, complex roles. This transition reflects a broader trend where AI automates entry-level functions, prompting firms to seek sophisticated expertise in strategy, analysis, and management. Consequently, the traditional model of low-cost labour arbitrage is evolving into a partnership focused on advanced problem-solving and technical proficiency, signalling a significant structural change in how multinational corporations utilise offshore resources.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift means your value no longer rests on executing repetitive tasks, which AI now handles efficiently. Instead, strategic thinking, complex problem-solving, and technical oversight are paramount. Professionals in data, finance, and operations must upskill immediately to manage AI-driven workflows rather than compete with them. Focus on developing expertise in AI strategy and data interpretation to lead these transformations. If you rely on routine administrative or basic coding tasks, you face obsolescence. Act now by integrating AI tools into your daily workflow and pursuing certifications that emphasise decision-making over execution. Position yourself as the human expert who interprets AI outputs, ensuring you remain indispensable in an upmarket outsourcing environment.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are AI Strategy, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Business And Management — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

Enrol in these
to benefit.

These programmes position you for exactly this shift — online, self-paced, and finishing with a verifiable certificate you can share the day you pass.