(Source: TA design/Shutterstock)
Coursera, the online learning and career development platform co-founded by Andrew Ng, recently released its annual skills report. The 2025 Global Skills Report marks the 7th year of Coursera’s research insights drawn from the data of its 170 million users and over 350 academic and industry partners.
This year’s report showed how rapid generative AI (GenAI) adoption is accelerating the global demand for GenAI skills. There is also a renewed interest in obtaining micro-credentials: short, focused learning programs that certify specific skills or competencies, often designed to help learners upskill quickly and show proficiency to employers. This is transforming talent pipelines, which in turn is driving the growth of skills-based organizations, Coursera says.
In 2023, one person enrolled in a GenAI course on Coursera nearly every minute. That pace sped up significantly in 2024, reaching eight enrollments per minute. Coursera says the momentum has continued into 2025, with 12 learners per minute now signing up for generative AI content across a catalog of nearly 700 courses. All in all, global enrollment in GenAI courses has grown 195 percent year-over-year, making it one of the fastest-growing skill areas on the platform with more than 8 million GenAI enrollments recorded by the platform to date.
Employer demand appears to be driving much of this growth. According to Coursera, 94% of employers say they are likely to hire candidates with GenAI credentials. Three out of four prefer less experienced candidates with GenAI skills over more experienced applicants without them. Industry demand is reflected in projections for roles like AI and machine learning specialists, which are expected to grow by as much as 40% over the next four years.
(Source: Shutterstock)
As the field continues to evolve, Coursera emphasizes the importance of mastering core AI competencies such as prompt engineering and large language model applications. Countries leading the platform’s new AI Maturity Index, including Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States, are among those best positioned to translate these skills into innovation and real-world impact.
Coursera’s new AI Maturity Index ranks 109 countries based on their capacity to adopt and innovate with AI. The index combines Coursera’s own learner data with external metrics on research output and national readiness. It accounts for factors like digital infrastructure, innovation policy, workforce adaptability, and AI governance. The result is a global snapshot of where AI skills and support systems are strongest and where investment could drive further progress.
As countries work to strengthen their national AI readiness, individuals and institutions are also navigating the practical implications of a rapidly evolving labor market. While the global job market shifts, the need for agile, targeted upskilling is becoming more urgent. By 2030, an estimated 92 million jobs will be displaced, while 170 million new roles are expected to emerge, according to the World Economic Forum.
To stay competitive, 85 percent of employers say they must upskill their current workforce, and 70 percent plan to hire talent with skills in high-demand areas such as data science, cloud computing, and generative AI. In this environment, micro-credentials are playing an increasingly important role in helping individuals build relevant expertise and signal job readiness, Coursera says.
Micro-credentials are short learning programs that validate specific skills, making them a practical solution for both learners and employers. Globally, 91% of employers say candidates with micro-credentials show stronger proficiency in key areas, and 94% of higher education leaders believe these credentials improve long-term career outcomes for graduates. Students are also seeing value: 94% say micro-credentials help accelerate career development, and nearly 90% say they improve their ability to compete in a dynamic job market.
Coursera’s platform data reflects this surge in interest in micro-credentials as both a career accelerator and workforce development tool. Enrollments in Professional Certificates, a popular micro-credential format, have grown across all regions. North America saw the highest increase, with 37 percent growth over the past year, followed closely by the Middle East and North Africa at 36 percent.
This growing demand for targeted, verifiable training is closely aligned with a larger shift in how employers evaluate talent and make hiring decisions. Of those employers surveyed, 97% say they have adopted or are exploring skills-based hiring, a model that prioritizes demonstrated competencies alongside traditional academic credentials. This approach is gaining traction amid concerns about the reliability of mass résumé submissions (some of which may be AI-generated) and the potential for algorithmic bias in automated hiring systems.
As a result, more companies are evolving into skills-based organizations, where validated skills steer hiring, promotions, and workforce planning. Professional Certificates and other micro-credentials play a central role in this model, Coursera’s research shows, offering employers a clearer picture of candidate capabilities. By aligning recruitment and advancement with verified proficiencies, businesses can reduce turnover, create clearer career pathways, and more efficiently match talent to evolving business needs, the report found.
This transition also reflects concerns about workforce sustainability. More than half of CEOs anticipate that labor and skills shortages will significantly impact profitability over the next decade.
Coursera’s latest findings suggest that AI is not just transforming how we work, but also how we prepare for work. As generative AI reshapes industries and redefines essential skills, learners around the world are taking the initiative to stay ahead. With millions enrolling in GenAI courses and employers increasingly valuing verified skills, the momentum behind skills-first learning is building. Read the full report at this link.
