I’m excited to share Coursera’s fourth annual Job Skills Report, which highlights the critical skills that individuals and institutions are prioritizing for 2025. Drawing from insights across five million enterprise learners and over 7,000 institutional customers, this report provides a data-driven analysis of the trends shaping the future of learning and work.

With proliferation and advancements in foundational models, generative AI (GenAI) will continue to reshape jobs and industries at an unprecedented rate. With the potential to unlock $15.7 trillion in global economic value by 2030, these gains will depend on our ability to help people develop skills to use AI effectively and make the most of its potential.

The Job Skills Report 2025 identifies the fastest-growing skills in AI, business, data science, and tech, with a spotlight on high-demand areas like GenAI and cybersecurity. Key findings include:

The global workforce is embracing GenAI at a rapid pace, with course enrollments surging by 866% year-over-year.

GenAI is now the fastest-growing skill among our enterprise learners—including employees, students, and job seekers. Notably, more than half (54%) of GenAI course enrollments come from learners in India, Colombia, and Mexico, signaling a shift in the globalization of AI talent and their availability in emerging markets. Foundational courses such as Google Cloud’s Introduction to Generative AI and Google’s AI Essentials, and courses that teach practical AI skills such as Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT from Vanderbilt University and IBM’s Generative AI: Introduction and Applications are driving the highest enrolment rates among enterprise learners. In 2025, we expect the global race toward AI literacy will further accelerate.

AI skills like computer vision, PyTorch, and machine learning (ML) doubled in enrollments year-over-year

With AI and ML Specialist roles expected to grow by 40% over the next four years, learners are rapidly upskilling and reskilling themselves through courses like IBM’s Deep Neural Networks and PyTorch and the University of Buffalo’s Computer Vision Basics. However, while more women are learning on Coursera overall (up 3% year over year), only 28% of Coursera’s GenAI course enrollments are from women. Encouraging women to pursue AI skills through educational initiatives and workplace policies will be crucial to narrowing the gender gap and ensuring AI benefits everyone.

Data ethics skills are a growing priority for employees.

Data ethics is among the fastest-growing skills on Coursera, driven by the need for employees to responsibly manage and analyze customer data. Despite its importance, there’s a notable gap in interest among students and job seekers. This is a major curricula improvement opportunity for campuses since 60% of data leaders identify data governance as a primary concern. A Deloitte survey found that 78% of organizations prioritize “safe and secure” AI use as a top ethical principle – a 37% increase from last year. As demand for data roles increases, learners who upskill in data ethics and governance will position themselves more competitively for future employment.

Risk management and cybersecurity skills surge into the fastest-growing skills list amid a 71% year-over-year rise in cyberattacks.

With 93% of organizations experiencing two or more identity-related breaches in the past year, demand for risk management and cybersecurity skills is rising. Six of the top ten fastest-growing tech skills this year are cybersecurity-related, including computer security, threat management & modeling, and network planning and design. Given the global shortage of nearly five million cybersecurity professionals, acquiring these skills will position learners as invaluable assets in a high-demand job market.

Human skills like assertiveness and communication are three of the top 10 fastest-growing skills overall, but Gen Z is more focused on green skills.

Human skills are essential, as 84% of managers believe new employees must possess and demonstrate the ability to communicate in a professional manner and articulate their ideas. Gen Z lags behind employees and job seekers here, with 71% of Gen Z workers finding it difficult to speak up and contribute in meetings. Instead, younger student learners are prioritizing green skills like waste management and business continuity planning, with over half of Gen Z expressing concern about the effects of climate change. Though ESG skills are in high demand, our findings indicate that Gen Z workers must also focus on core human skills, to align their skill sets more closely with employer needs.

Technology, especially GenAI, is accelerating change, and the rate of learning must keep pace. This report serves as a guide to better understand the skills needed to thrive in 2025 and beyond so everyone can learn, adapt, and succeed.

Download the 2025 Job Skills Report here.

Interested in turning these insights into a skills development plan for your institution? Book a meeting with a Coursera team member today.

Word of the Day: azure

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onlinefreecourse

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December 12, 2024

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This word has appeared in 55 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?

MSc Cyber Security students offer insight and inspiration for others

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onlinefreecourse

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December 11, 2024

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MSc Cyber Security students offer insight and inspiration for others

A collection of stories from the University of London program

Earning the MSc in Cyber Security from the University of London is a transformative experience for students from many backgrounds. Because every student enrolls with unique motivations and aspirations, they each have something different to say about their time during and after the program. Together, their words paint a powerful picture of how people who follow a similar learning path can find enjoyment and success in their own ways.

Michael seeks to shift his career

Working as an IT engineer in Philadelphia, Michael views the program as a starting point for new opportunities. “I’m over 40 and I think I might want to change my career. I still want to work in cybersecurity. I’ve done it for a long time, but I see the master’s program from the University of London as a doorway to moving into either management or research and shifting my career to something that is not as stressful as dealing with live, active intrusions,” he reveals.

Michael additionally appreciates the flexibility, quality, and affordability that comes with learning from the University of London on Coursera. He sums things up by stating, “I might even want to get a PhD eventually, but I’m starting off with the master’s program online because it can be done in my own time and the University of London is a great school. It’s very reputable, and it’s also very affordable.”

Muhammad enters a new job market

Even as a cybersecurity consultant who’s spent 20 years in the field, Muhammad still wanted to add the MSc Cyber Security degree to his resume so that he could pursue jobs in the European market or his PhD. As it was his first time learning online, Muhammad relied on being highly organized. He remembers, “At the very beginning, I prepared an Excel spreadsheet. I went through everything on my reading list and figured out what I needed to do every day. I assigned tasks for every day and checked them off once done.”

Because he hadn’t learned online before his master’s program, it’s noteworthy too that Muhammad emphasizes, “[Coursera] is an excellent platform, and very easy to use. The way the material is delivered—you watch a video, you have some reading to do, some quizzes as well. It’s good for people like myself who’ve never studied remotely.”

Lee expands his knowledge and skills

Like Muhammad, Lee came to the program having already worked in cybersecurity for two decades. When Lee discusses what he’s taken away from individual modules, he mentions, “An early module—probably my favorite—delved into cybercrime, exploring the tactics of cybercriminals and different types of attacks, from phishing to ransomware. Real-world case studies provided a solid foundation in the dynamics of cyber threats.”

Turning his attention to his present and future modules, Lee continues by saying, “Each module includes hands-on exercises, simulating real-world scenarios. This practical approach has really assisted me in absorbing the content of the course. For instance, developing an ISMS for a hypothetical organization provided deep insights into security governance.”

Max sees the industries waiting for him

Having previously earned a bachelor’s degree in interactive design, Max chose to add the MSc Cyber Security to his professional credentials after creating cybersecurity tools for about eight years. “Cybersecurity isn’t just for cybersecurity companies—banks and fintech companies depend on it, for example. They need people who know how to protect against hardware attacks and malware, because it’s usually not the developers’ first priority. So, if I have that cybersecurity knowledge, I can apply for many kinds of jobs in that area,” he observes.

Now that he’s almost graduated, Max looks back on his time in the program and declares, “As I near the completion of my master’s degree, I can conclude that the MSc in Cyber Security from the University of London is exceptionally well-designed. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, both practical and theoretical, technical and humanitarian, as well as innovative and traditional. Also, the international peers foster an inclusive atmosphere, even within the context of distance education.”

Mirjana gains an edge in her role

A couple years into her cybersecurity career, Mirjana was looking to support what she was learning on the job with academic knowledge. Remembering a moment at work that happened after she began the MSc Cyber Security program, she remarks, “I found myself having a discussion with my manager. Even as a junior with two years of experience, I came up with good arguments for creating a positive cybersecurity culture.”

Meanwhile, as she contemplates the importance of the online platform where she’s done her studies, Mirjana points out, “In Coursera, you have everything in one place. You can save notes during a professor’s lecture, or the discussion between students or teaching staff, Q&A sessions, everything is in one place and is easy to coordinate.”

New students embark on their journeys

These students who have shared their individual stories have ended up with more than the MSc Cyber Security in common. They all have excitement and optimism about their current and future career. With each passing year, new students can say they feel the same way. If you’re interested in being one of them, check out the program today and consider the possibilities for yourself. The next story from the MSc Cyber Security that’s told could be yours.