India’s IT sector is on a record-breaking growth trajectory, contributing $250 billion in FY 2023 and projected to hit $350 billion by 2026 (Source: NASSCOM). However, a silent crisis threatens this momentum—the severe shortage of skilled UX/UI professionals.
By 2026, UX/UI job openings in India will outnumber available talent by 40%. With 8 out of 10 IT companies struggling to hire and retain UX talent, the gap is widening fast (Source: LinkedIn Jobs Report 2024).
The Demand-Supply Mismatch: A Growing Concern
With rapid digital transformation across sectors like fintech, edtech, healthcare, and e-commerce, the demand for user-centric design has surged. However, IT companies face a widening UX skills gap, leading to:
- Delayed product launches due to a lack of UX expertise.
- High churn rates as companies poach from a small talent pool.
- Customer dissatisfaction due to poor user experience.
By 2030, India’s IT workforce is expected to exceed 10 million, with UX/UI professionals making up 15-18% of hiring demand (Source: Gartner). Companies that invest in structured UX training now will have a clear advantage in securing top talent.
Despite the growing urgency, India lacks a structured pipeline of UX professionals, forcing companies to either hire expensive overseas talent or rely on developers to fill UX gaps, often at the cost of product quality.
Why Upskilling is the Only Solution
Recruitment alone can’t solve the crisis—hiring an external UX designer costs companies 3x more than upskilling an existing team member. Yet, traditional UX training in India is:
- Too generic – Fails to address real-world industry needs
- Expensive & time-consuming – Doesn’t fit into corporate L&D budgets
- Lacks measurable impact – No tracking of ROI or skill improvements
Why is India Facing a UX Talent Shortage?
The root causes of this crisis include:
- Outdated Design Education
- Most UX designers in India come from graphic design backgrounds, lacking formal UX training.
- Universities and design schools fail to integrate modern UX/UI principles, leading to a workforce that isn’t industry-ready.
- Limited Access to Specialized Training
- Only 15% of Indian design teams have structured, continuous learning programs.
- Most UX professionals rely on self-paced online courses, which have completion rates as low as 5-15% due to a lack of engagement.
- Lack of Internal Upskilling Initiatives
- Design leaders spend less than 20% of their time mentoring, leaving junior designers with limited growth opportunities.
- UX upskilling is often deprioritized in IT firms, leading to stagnant skill sets.
- The Rise of AI-Driven and Mobile-First UX
- With 75% of India’s internet users accessing platforms via mobile, UX designers must adapt to mobile-first design—a skill still underdeveloped in India.
- Emerging AI-powered design tools require advanced UX expertise, which the current talent pool lacks.
The Cost of Ignoring the UX Talent Crisis
If Indian IT firms fail to address this talent gap, the long-term consequences will be severe:
- Poor product adoption and lower customer retention.
- Increased reliance on foreign UX talent, driving up hiring costs.
- Lost opportunities in the global market due to subpar design quality.
The Road Ahead: A Wake-Up Call for Indian IT Companies
The UX talent crisis in India is no longer a distant threat—it is a reality that demands immediate action. Companies must invest in structured, scalable, and engaging UX training programs to bridge the gap before it’s too late.
Recognizing this urgent need, India Market Entry (IME) has partnered with Uxcel to bring world-class UX upskilling solutions to India, helping IT enterprises future-proof their teams.
If India wants to maintain its dominance in the global tech industry, UX upskilling must shift from being an afterthought to a top priority. The future of digital innovation depends on it.
Want to future-proof your UX team? To get our exclusive report on “State of UX/UI Training in India’s IT Industry.” mail to contact@indiamarketentry.com
