Introducing the Coursera Job Skills Report 2026: The most critical skills learners around the world will need this year
Author: Anthony Salcito, Corporate General Manager, Coursera
I’m pleased to share Coursera’s fifth annual Job Skills Report, which highlights the critical skills that individuals and institutions will prioritize in 2026. The report draws on insights from nearly 6 million professional corporate learners and more than 7,000 institutional clients to provide a data-driven window into the key trends shaping the future of learning and work.
Over the past year, we have all experienced unprecedented acceleration driven by generative artificial intelligence. This pace of change will continue to transform the skills landscape through 2026. Artificial intelligence is reshaping not only the way we work and make decisions, but also the role-specific skills we need to stay competitive.
This year’s report examines skills trends through a new lens shaped by these forces. We focus on three popular career areas that drive value and innovation –Data, IT, and software and product development— and the role of artificial intelligence in augmenting and automating how tasks in these areas are performed. We also capture GenAI learning trends on our platform.
Key findings from the 2026 Job Skills Report include:
- Learners recognize the need to layer role-specific AI knowledge on top of a technical foundation.
With 14 people signing up every minute, GenAI remains the most popular skill in Coursera’s history. However, learners realize that AI skills are most powerful when developed in conjunction with or in a way that complements core technical competencies.
This is the basis for their prioritization of basic technical skills, e.g. SQL, JSON and web applications— which will remain integral to managing existing infrastructure — while actively layering on new AI capabilities, e.g. unsupervised learning and Multimodal transport tips.
- Critical thinking and validation skills are now considered core competencies for all learners.
As AI automates technical tasks, human skills become indispensable. For example, “Human Computer Interaction” skills, e.g. debug It is the top ten skills of IT learners; the data queue shows that the year-on-year growth exceeds 100% Data quality (+108%) and Data cleaning (+103%). This need for verification skills is also reflected in critical thinking Enrollment for all groups: 168% increase for data learners, 101% increase for software and product learners, 91% increase for IT learners, and 185% increase for GenAI learners.
As workers increasingly hand over entire tasks to AI agents instead of just iterating alongside them, the role of humans is changing from collaborators to expert validators of the final output.
- AI proficiency is now critical for non-technical positions.
GenAI enrollment among all enterprise learners A year-on-year increase of 234%. Demand for AI-related skills extends well beyond engineering and IT: the fastest-growing skills among learners specifically interested in GenAI skill development are content creation. This focus is complemented by skills that enable more complex creative output, e.g. Image Analysis(#4) and Multimodal prompts (#8).
- The gender gap in tech and GenAI training is closing.
In the three technical career fields we analyzed, the proportion of women joining companies has increased year by year. The data increased from 32% to 35%, IT increased from 29% to 32%and Software and product development dropped from 30% to 33%. Additionally, GenAI-related enrollment among female corporate learners will increase from 36% in 2024 to 41% in 2025.
By prioritizing accessible AI upskilling initiatives, leaders can tap into a diverse talent pool, accelerate inclusive economic growth, and close the gender gap in technology leadership.
- Growth of verified credentials
Employers and job seekers are increasingly turning to verified credentials to make skills visible, credible and trustworthy. Enrollment in professional certificates increased by an average of 91% across all career fields analyzed in this report. This growth demonstrates the growing demand for flexible, industry-recognized micro-credentials that provide verifiable proof of skill mastery.
The career areas we analyzed for this report are also aligned with our recently launched Coursera Skills Tracks, which offer pre-built learning paths tailored to essential business functions. This allows us to identify skills growth and learning trends for high-impact roles in specialist areas such as information technology, software and products, and data.
The 2026 Job Skills Report highlights the essential competencies your team, students, and citizens will need most to succeed in the year ahead. I hope this report helps provide you with a clear path forward so you can lead, adapt, and thrive in a world where skills are changing faster than ever.
To help you make informed decisions for your organization, download the 2026 Job Skills Report here.
Interested in turning these insights into skills development initiatives at your institution? Make an appointment to meet with a Coursera team member today.
