Introduction to Coursera’s 2025 Global Skills Report: Skill Trends Shaping the Future of Education and Employment

Coursera CEO Greg Hart (Greg Hart)

I’m happy to share the seventh edition of Coursera of the year Global Skills Reportproviding comprehensive insights into skills that require shaping the future of work. Drawing on data from more than 170 million learners in our community, this year’s report reveals where global skill proficiency is global, where gaps remain and why learner behavior is driven in more than 100 countries.

Generative AI (Genai) has quickly gained investment and industry adoption. The trend on Coursera reflects this momentum, Genai enrollment surges by 195%R and Total more than 8 million. Coursera’s 700 Genai Courses Average in 2025 Register 12 per minute– From 1 minute per minute in 2023 and 8 minutes in 2024 – Make Genai the fastest growing skill category in Coursera. India now has the number of Genai course enrollment in any country, More than 1.3 million In 2024.

I’m particularly inspired by how online learning can create a level playing field for millions of learners in emerging markets, especially in new areas like Genai. Genai enrollment in the past year In the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa have doubled. Genai enrollment in Latin America increased by 425%, the highest in any place.

This year’s Skill Capacity Ranking is based on a reliable approach that combines Coursera learner data with trusted external indicators, including World Bank indicators such as its Human Capital Index and Workforce Engagement Data. Including this critical third-party economic data allows us to confirm our platform scores through external indicators, thus giving a more comprehensive view of learner skills in the economy.

Key findings:

• European countries account for nine of the top ten in our overall global skills ranking. Switzerland retains its highest ranking position, the Netherlands second and Sweden third.
  • Singapore (No. 4) is Apac’s leading skills hotspot. Hong Kong (13th), South Korea (14th) and Japan (17th) also reached Top 20.
  • By comparison, Major English-speaking countriesfor example, the UK (22nd), Australia (23rd) and the US (27th) ranked lower.
  • Latin American The highest ranking country is Peru (No. 45), and Uruguay (No. 49) It’s also the top 50. Learners in the area have recognized Cybersecurity As the main global skill gap, enrollment from LATAM learners 129% year-on-year (young).
  • United Arab Emirates (No. 38) is the skilled leader of MENA, followed by Qatar (40th place). Genai enrollment surged 344% in the UAE and 165% in Saudi Arabia, and learners’ behavior is aligned with a large comprehensive investment in AI and other digital technologies.
• Micro beliefs improve learners’ employment outcomes and send key skills to employers. Learners around the world are responding.
  • Coursera learners’ behavior reflects the increasing demand for candidates with micro-beliefs from employers and the number of professional certificate registrations in all regions.
  • We have now recorded over 15.4 million enrollments in our portfolio of entry-level professional certificates, including 37% growth in North America (the highest growth in any region) and 36% in the Middle East and North Africa over the past year.
• Cybersecurity enrollment is growing rapidly, but it still lags behind global labor demand.
  • Coursera’s cybersecurity enrollment rose in 2025, with Latin America at 106%, Europe at 20%, and Asia-Pacific at 14% year-on-year.
  • But nearly 5 million additional cybersecurity professionals are needed worldwide, and less than half of organizations feel “fully prepared” to defend against AI-powered cyber threats.
• Growth of women’s participation in online learning, but Genai gender gap remains
  • Women now account for 46% of the global learner base in Coursera, with some countries showing gender equality or higher.
  • For example, 56% of principal learners in Kazakhstan are women, while women make up 43% of the country’s Genai curriculum. However, the global average of women’s Genai course enrollment share in Coursera remains 32%.
  • Providing flexible certificates, confidence-building resources, and more female role models is critical to achieving inclusive AI-driven growth globally.

To better evaluate global AI readiness, We also introduced the AI ​​maturity indexwhich complements our country’s ranking of proficiency in business, technology and data skills. The index combines learner data with indicators from the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Global ranking countries About AI research and innovation. Leaders around the world can use it to identify AI learning hotspots, understand regional advancements and pinpoint AI talent centers.

Countries led in our new AI maturity index – countries that emphasize the best leverage AI innovation and transform skills into real-world applications – including Singapore (#1), Denmark (#2), Switzerland (#3), the United States (#4) and Finland (#5). European countries also stand out in this index and occupy 8 out of the top ten rankings.

Coursera Global Skills Report 2025 provides a clear call for action – whether you are developing national education policies, building corporate learning programs, or aligning academic curriculum with real-world needs. Coursera is committed to working with leaders from all regions and sectors to achieve a more inclusive, promising future for workers around the world.