Coursera's Skills Report: What 120 Million People Worldwide Are Learning

What information is collected in the Global Skills Report

In spring 2023, the number of Coursera users reached more than 124 million, and the total number of available courses exceeded 5,400. The report took into account data from users in 100 countries. However, Russia is not on this list. Although the platform is available to private users in our country, Russians cannot enroll in paid programs. In addition, courses developed by Russian organizations were closed last year.

The Global Skills Report is an extensive data analysis covering different regions and countries of the world. The main goal of this report is to provide up-to-date information on the skills and qualifications of the global workforce. The data collection allows us to identify trends and determine the strengths and weaknesses of various countries in the field of education and vocational training. The research covers key aspects, including educational attainment, access to training, and skill demand in the labor market. This makes the report a valuable tool for understanding the current situation and planning future initiatives in the area of human capital development.

the number and composition of Coursera users in these territories;
which courses are popular there;
the level of proficiency in certain key skills among platform users in these regions and countries.

Despite the diversity of courses on the platform, the report focuses on three key areas: technology, business, and data science. Coursera highlights these units as the most in-demand and the most closely related to career advancement. Importantly, skills in these areas are most often acquired by users not out of personal interest, but with the goal of enhancing their professional capabilities. Examples of such in-demand skills and topics include:

Coursera includes skills related to management and organizational activities, as well as a number of soft skills in the business unit. For example, this includes auditing, writing, business analytics, digital marketing, innovation, and HR management.
Technology includes all areas related to IT and computer science. For example, these are skills in working with the Internet of Things, mobile application development, individual programming languages, and cybersecurity.
The report separately highlights skills in the field of Data Science—all those related to the creation and use of data. Examples include R and Python, various areas of machine learning and data analysis, as well as mathematical disciplines.

Which countries have these skills highly developed?

An important element of the Global Skills Report is the ranking of countries by level of skills development. These rankings are formed based on the analysis of various indicators reflecting the state of educational systems, vocational training, and the availability of skills in the labor market. The results make it possible to identify countries with highly developed skills, as well as identify areas requiring improvement. This contributes to a deeper understanding of global trends in education and training, and helps countries develop effective strategies for improving the skills of their populations.

The basis is assessments and other indicators of course completion for each skill of individual users from each country.
Individual data is aggregated to obtain an average score for each skill for the country. However, these scores are not included in the report.
Analysts compare the average scores of all countries and assign each one a place in the ranking for individual skills and for their blocks.
Since there are 100 countries in the report, there are the same number of places in the list for each skill. However, the actual gap in average scores between the leading country and the country in hundredth place is not 100 times, but much smaller.
That is, the ranking is simply a convenient way to divide countries into groups. For example, countries in the top 25 places on the list are considered advanced in the measured skill, while those in the bottom 25 are considered laggards.

It's important to note that Coursera's data represents user estimates from the platform, and it only represents a small percentage of the adult population in each country, amounting to just a few percent. This should be taken into account when analyzing statistics and drawing conclusions about the quality of educational content on Coursera.

Photo: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock

According to the Global Skills Report, the overall global ranking of countries across all three measured skill blocks is as follows English:

Switzerland.
Spain.
Germany.
Luxembourg.
Japan.
Indonesia.
Slovakia.
Netherlands.
France.
Belgium.

There are no European countries in the bottom ten list of countries with the least developed skills. This list includes Algeria, Ghana, Iraq, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, and the Philippines. Coursera analysts emphasize that these countries differ from each other in terms of economic indicators, the level of human capital development, including access to education and healthcare, and the level of internet penetration. These factors significantly influence the formation of skills of the population and determine the general conditions for their development.

The share of users of online professional development platforms varies among the working population in different countries. However, online courses are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Differences between students from different countries are evident not only in skill levels but also in their preferences for course topics. The Global Skills Report notes several key trends in this area.

Interest in skills that are difficult to automate

The development of artificial intelligence in recent years has significantly increased the need for reskilling, as the report notes. This need existed before, driven by digital transformation, automation, and globalization. The increase in the number of students taking online courses demonstrates that people around the world are actively seeking reskilling. In the process, they employ a variety of strategies, adapting their skills to rapidly changing labor market demands.

In the new Global Skills Report from Coursera, analysts documented a continuing trend observed since last year: in developed countries, students are increasingly choosing programs aimed at developing analytical thinking, collaboration and communication skills, creativity, and other soft skills over IT courses. This indicates a shift in emphasis in education, where the importance of interpersonal and creative skills is becoming increasingly significant amid technological change. Teaching such skills is becoming key to preparing students for the challenges of the modern labor market.

Many students from affluent countries with high GDP and internet access demonstrate excellent results in complex IT courses, which may indicate a high level of digital skills. However, the authors of the report consider another, additional explanation for this phenomenon. Perhaps successful technology acquisition is associated not only with the availability of resources, but also with the quality of educational programs and support from educational institutions. This highlights the importance of creating conditions for the development of digital skills among students across regions to ensure equal opportunities in the labor market.

According to experts, the trend towards soft skills is becoming a key element of a successful development strategy in the context of increasing automation and the intellectualization of technology. This strategy aims to integrate digital skills that enable effective use of digitalization opportunities with soft skills focused on interaction with people. This combination will help not only adapt to change but also reduce the risks associated with the automation of work processes. Developing soft skills is becoming a necessity in a modern world where technologies are becoming increasingly complex.

Sustainable Demand for Digital Skills

Coursera users from countries with low economic performance appear to be unable to implement a two-part development strategy. For them, digital skills are primarily important, as they open up opportunities for obtaining in-demand professions and finding work, including remote positions. They are less interested in the question of further increasing their competitiveness in the labor market through soft skills.

Photo: Yurii_Yarema / Shutterstock

Data on the popularity of various skills in different countries allows us to better understand user interests. For example, if on average 20% of the platform's users choose courses in a particular skill, and in a particular country this figure is 40%, Coursera analysts conclude that in that country, the demand for that skill is twice as high as the global average. This demonstrates significant differences in learner needs and preferences across regions, which can be useful for developing tailored educational programs and courses.

Some examples of in-demand skills among users across different countries include:

In Australia, resilience is 2.18 times more popular than the Coursera average, while adaptability is 2.09 times more popular;
In the Philippines, social media skills are 1.85 times more popular than the platform average, while graphic design is 2.74 times more popular;
In Brazil, programming fundamentals are 2.93 times more popular than the Coursera average, while strategic planning is the most popular business skill (2.2 times more popular than the global average);
In Chile, data analysis skills are three times more popular than the platform average, while programming is 1.78 times more popular Python.

AI skills aren't very popular yet

Coursera offers courses on neural networks, machine learning, and computer vision. Data analysis shows that users with a master's or other degree after a bachelor's degree are the most active in enrolling in these courses. Among this category of users, interest in courses is approximately 20% higher than the platform average. This indicates growing interest in professions related to data analytics and artificial intelligence.

Research shows that in France and Germany, skills related to artificial intelligence are studied one and a half times more often than the Coursera average. This demonstrates the high interest in AI and its applications in these countries. The growing number of AI courses and programs in these regions opens new opportunities for professional growth and career development.

Currently, AI attracts only a small group of highly educated students. Most other potential students appear to struggle with complex AI-related materials and courses, creating a barrier to the wider dissemination of knowledge about modern technologies.

According to the report, up to 49% of workers may soon experience changes in the performance of at least half of their work tasks due to the impact of large language models such as ChatGPT and its peers. Therefore, employers should consider developing their employees' AI skills. This will help them adapt to new conditions and increase their competitiveness in the job market. Developing AI skills is becoming an integral part of professional growth and a successful career in the digital age.

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What type of programs are popular worldwide?

Residents of different countries, regardless of their learning preferences, are increasingly trying to validate their knowledge and skills through the Coursera platform. This demonstrates the growing interest in online education and the importance of certifications in the modern world. Educational validation is becoming a key element for career advancement and competitiveness in the job market. Coursera offers a variety of courses and certificates that help users not only improve their skills but also increase their attractiveness to employers.

Short-term training programs lasting up to six months have recently become particularly popular. Upon completion of such courses, students receive certificates confirming their professional training. Leading companies such as IBM and Google offer similar programs on their platforms. These courses focus on teaching skills in digital professions, which meets the demands of the modern labor market.

In 2022, a record number of students were enrolled in entry-level vocational programs in the United States – 1.3 million. However, interest in such educational formats is also rapidly growing in other countries. For example, in the Philippines, enrollment in vocational programs increased by 253% compared to 2021, in Pakistan by 228%, and in Brazil by 171%. This demonstrates a global trend towards the growing popularity of vocational education, which opens new opportunities for students around the world.

Analyzing global trends, it can be seen that the greatest growth in demand for certificates is not observed in the most affluent regions. Specifically, in Sub-Saharan Africa, demand increased by 80% over the past year, and in the Asia-Pacific region by 69%. North America ranks third with a 53% increase. On average, across the 100 countries included in the report, demand for certificate programs increased by 46%. In quantitative terms, the number of people enrolled in such programs reached 3.4 million. These data highlight the growing importance of certificates as a tool for skill development and competitiveness in the global labor market.

Coursera analysts note growing interest from governments and employers in programs for advanced training in digital professions. As an example, they cite an initiative in Kazakhstan, where a number of universities are introducing additional courses aimed at developing skills in digital professions into their curricula. Although the Coursera report does not mention the implementation of a similar large-scale project in Russia, it is worth noting that "Digital Departments" are actively operating in the country, which also contribute to the training of specialists in this field.

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