Key points:
- Global patterns offer a close look at skills needed for workforce success
- How higher ed responds to the changing needs of labor markets
- How higher ed can meet workforce needs
- For more news on career readiness, visit eCN’s Teaching & Learning hub
As the workforce evolves, AI literacy and readiness remain at the top of must-have skills as graduates enter the workforce, while some areas, including cybersecurity, are experiencing worker shortages, according to Coursera’s 2024 Global Skills Report.
The report draws on data from Coursera’s global learning community and offers a look at today’s rapidly transforming skills landscape, along with insights to help today’s higher-ed leaders ensure their institutions produce graduates who are highly equipped to enter the workforce.
Key findings include:
1. AI literacy has cemented itself as a global imperative. Generative AI course enrollments surged by 1,060 percent globally over the past year, according to Coursera data, as learners sought foundational AI skills. Higher-ed institutions should work to tailor curricula to regional AI skill gaps to prepare students for the future of work.
2. AI readiness initiatives are driving emerging skill adoptions. The steep increase in generative AI course enrollments isn’t just a reflection of learner interest. It demonstrates the efforts of businesses, governments, and higher education institutions to prepare AI-ready economies. In higher-ed institutions, look to upskill faculty and staff in AI to enhance productivity and leverage AI tools to create content.
3. The digital skills gap persists in a rapidly evolving job market. More than 9 in 10 jobs now require at least some level of digital proficiency, such as using a computer to email and create documents. Despite this need, there’s still a big difference between what employers expect in terms of digital skills and what many workers actually know and can do. In higher ed, this translates to integrating digital skills into curricula to ensure learners are well-prepared for jobs.
4. Cybersecurity skills remain crucial amid talent shortages and evolving threats. Cybersecurity plays a crucial role in building resilient digital infrastructure, especially with the challenges posed by emerging technologies like generative AI. Despite this, enrollment growth in cybersecurity skills falls behind high-growth areas like cloud computing and data science. Higher-ed institutions can integrate cutting-edge cybersecurity content into curricula to prepare students for in-demand cybersecurity careers.
5. Microcredentials are a rapid pathway for learners to prepare for in-demand jobs. Learners are increasingly turning to industry microcredentials, including professional certificates, to gain digital skills for jobs. With 60 percent of workers requiring retraining by 2027, the need for accessible learning pathways is more pressing than ever. In higher-ed settings, recognize or integrate microcredentials for credit within the curriculum to help meet evolving student and market needs.
6. The global gender gap in online learning continues to narrow, but regional disparities persist. Higher-ed leaders should enhance curricula to align with high-earning careers for women; promote the associated salaries, economic opportunities, and job flexibility.
For a detailed look at global and regional skills trends, download the report.
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