Paper Series

India Inc, AI, and the communication competence gap: What employers need from emerging talent

June 29, 2026

Vineeta Dwivedi and Mohini Arora

Abstract

As Artificial Intelligence transforms the nature of work, organisations across India are increasingly re-evaluating the skills that define employability and long-term professional success. While technical expertise remains in demand, evidence suggests that communication, judgment and problem framing are becoming critical differentiators in AI-enabled workplaces. This white paper examines whether India’s future workforce is prepared for this shift. Drawing on a two-part analysis, it combines a thematic synthesis of four major 2025–2026 industry reports with an observational review of communication feedback from 105 MBA students participating in extemporaneous speaking exercises. Together, these analyses provide a view of what India Inc increasingly expects from talent and how future managers communicate under real-time cognitive pressure. The findings reveal a striking tension. While industry increasingly values higher-order human capabilities, many students continue to demonstrate conversational informality, surface fluency, fragmented structure, cognitive overload, and limited audience engagement. The paper introduces the concept of the Communication Competence Gap, the growing mismatch between the communication capabilities demanded by AI-era organisations and those currently displayed by emerging talent. The white paper concludes with a practical framework and recommendations for industry, academia, students, and policymakers seeking to build an AI-resilient workforce capable not only of using technology but also of thinking, synthesising, and communicating effectively.

Keywords: Communication Competence, Employability, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Communication Skills, Higher Education, Workforce Readiness, Human-AI Collaboration, Leadership Communication, MBA Education, Talent Development

Suggested Citation

Dwivedi, V. and Arora, M. (2026). India Inc, AI, and the Communication Competence Gap: What Employers Need from Emerging Talent. White Paper, SPJIMR Paper Series, WPR-2026-10. S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR). https://www.spjimr.org/paperseries/wpr-2026-10/

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