In 2025, Indian HR leaders are facing a year unlike any before. The workplace has become a paradox of extremes: technology is advancing faster than policies, engagement is falling even as job opportunities rise, and employees-exhausted yet ambitious-are demanding more humanity in how they work.
A series of global and India-focused HR research studies released this year point to one shared truth: organizations that redesign work around trust, skill mobility, and leadership capability will lead the next decade of growth.
This special report reviews five of the most influential HR studies of 2025 and what they mean for the Indian business environment-from falling engagement scores to the mental health crisis at work and the urgent reskilling race triggered by AI.
1. Engagement at a Decade Low: The ADP ‘People at Work 2025’ Alarm
“India’s workforce engagement dropped sharply to just 19% in 2025-one of the steepest global declines.” – ADP Research Institute, People at...
