New Economy Skills 2025

GenAI and the enduring nature of human-centric skills BOX 1 Coursera’s research for this report highlights the strong and evolving demand for AI, data, and digital skills (Figure 5). AI and big data now account for the largest share of learning hours on the platform, representing about 21% in the second quarter of 2025. Learning activity in this area has followed a sharp upward trajectory since mid-2022, peaking at nearly 6 million learning hours – 27% of total learning time – by mid- 2024. This surge was driven largely by the rapid adoption of AI tools and by the breakthrough of generative AI following the release of ChatGPT in late 2022. Networks and cybersecurity, by contrast, shows a more fluctuating pattern of demand, rising after 2023 but trending downward again in mid-2025. Technological literacy experienced a steep increase in 2020, likely reflecting the widespread shift to remote work, online education and greater reliance on digital platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, demand declined sharply until mid-2021, then decreased more gradually suggesting that the initial urgency for basic digital literacy has eased as learners and workplaces adapted. Programming has maintained steady demand since 2022, showing an upward trend beginning in 2024, underscoring its role as a foundational digital skill. Meanwhile, design and user experience (UX), though starting from a smaller base, has demonstrated accelerating growth since 2023, as human-centred design becomes increasingly central to digital product development. A closer look at AI skills (Figure 6) shows how technological breakthroughs have reshaped learning demand. Beyond an initial surge during COVID-19, interest in AI skills accelerated significantly from early 2022. Importantly, the rise of genAI introduced a distinct growth pattern: while core AI skills continued to expand, demand for genAI surged after the release of ChatGPT, marking a clear inflection point in global upskilling trends. Learning trends in AI, data and digital skills FIGURE 5 Source: Coursera; World Economic Forum, Global Skills Taxonomy.Learning hours (‘000s) spent pursuing assessments and credentials, 2020–2025. AI and big data Networks and cybersecurity Technological literacy Programming Design and user experience2020 202103,0004,000 1,0002,0005,0006,000 2024 2022 2023 2025 2020 202103,000 1,0002,0004,000 2024 2022 2023 2025 2020 202103,0004,000 1,0002,0005,0006,000 2024 2022 2023 2025 2020 202101,0001,500 5002,000 2024 2022 2023 2025 2020 202105001,0001,500 2024 2022 2023 2025 New Economy Skills: Building AI, Data and Digital Capabilities for Growth 12