Global Learning &
Skills Trends Report

Read the trends and dive into the data.

Teams – and leaders – are aligning on communication and collaboration

Across business skills, top trends focus on creating better processes while improving collaboration. Leadership development represents another key area of learning consumption. Strong leaders need a variety of skills to bring teams together, in part through clear planning and communication.

Project management supports complex cross-functional work so that dispersed teams can achieve their objectives. Frameworks like Scrum and Agile figure prominently among the skills learned most, as does learning to acquire certifications and validate skills in these key areas.

Scrum: Use for flexibility and iterative development within strict timelines.
Control: Not a methodology, but part of managing any project, ensuring adherence to scope, time, and cost.
Agile: Broad approach; Scrum fits under Agile, useful when adapting to changes quickly within set deliverables.

Personalization is a critical element of customer interactions and helps drive engagement and brand awareness. Digital experiences are core to personalizing customer relationships, explaining why advertising, social media, and PR are marketing skills seeing a surge in learning consumption.

Top 10 surging business skills

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Advertising strategy1,118%
Certification and software test-taking preparation1,044%
Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)593%
Public relations334%
Notion326%
Foundational business planning304%
Social media marketing257%
Anti-money laundering (AML)239%
HR analytics209%
Project planning208%

Top 10 consumed business skills

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Microsoft Excel tools1
Communication skills2
Foundational project management3
Foundational leadership4
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification5
Agile6
Scrum7
Effective meeting strategy8
Business analysis9
Time management10

Business Operations

Aligning supply chain processes and logistics for better flow

Warehouses are at the root of the supply chain and require efficient, modern processes, logistics, and management to support retail and transportation industries, among others. Meeting customer expectations for speed and accuracy of delivery mean that more and more organizations are relying on digital technologies to support their supply chain operations. Systems engineering and Kaizen are popular methods to streamline and create better processes.

Top 10 surging skills:Business operations excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Warehouse management173%
Logistics management165%
Business process management (BPM)164%
Kaizen135%
Manufacturing112%
Inventory management104%
Process mapping91%
Procurement87%
Quality management87%
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) certification82%

Top 10 consumed skills:Business operations excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Business analysis1
Quality assurance2
Supply chain3
Process mapping4
Business process modeling5
Quality management6
Business process management (BPM)7
Procurement8
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) certification9
Business process model &notation10

Finance & Accounting

A focus on financial certification and cloud accounting tools

Acquiring verifiable skills through certifications is as essential in finance and accounting as in other areas, which is why the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification ranks high. Learners are diving into tools from SAP to keep accounting activities in the cloud. Fundamental accounting principles round out the rest of the top-consumed skills.

Top 10 surging skills:Finance &accounting excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Anti-money laundering (AML)239%
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification175%
Internal auditing142%
Tax preparation139%
Management accounting131%
Financial statement128%
Foundational insurance topics127%
Uniform CPA examination110%
Private equity102%
Oracle NetSuite99%

Top 10 consumed skills:Finance &accounting excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification1
Financial analysis2
SAP S/4HANA3
SAP FICO4
Bookkeeping5
Foundational accounting6
Corporate finance7
Financial accounting8
Foundational finance topics9
Financial modeling10

Language learning

Language skills are business skills.

For today’s multinational organizations, speaking the same language is mission critical so teams can communicate effectively across borders to align efforts and objectives. Most organizations prioritize Business English, which makes up 80% of foreign language learning on Udemy Business. English language certifications and preparing the skills needed to pass those also rank high, followed by other global languages.

Top 10 surging skills:Language learning excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Certification and software test-taking preparation1,044%
Business English226%
Portuguese language187%
Japanese language167%
Foreign language learning best practices126%
Korean language107%
Italian language75%
Dutch language73%
PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic proficiency test71%
German language65%

Top 10 consumed skills:Language learning excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Business English1
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) proficiency test2
Spanish language3
German language4
French language5
Japanese language6
Korean language7
Mandarin Chinese language8
Italian language9
Portuguese language10

Leadership & Management

Learning skills to lead through change

Leaders are embracing skills to manage the rapid pace of change and disruptive technological transformation in today’s workplace. Effective communication and coaching skills, the ability to formulate strategy, and fundamental leadership and management capabilities are more important than ever. These skills allow leaders to engage teams and create collaborative, inclusive work environments.

Top 10 surging skills:Leadership &management excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Foundational business planning304%
Coaching177%
Strategic planning153%
Team building150%
Ethics138%
Empathy136%
Digital transformation135%
Foundational business proposal134%
Problem solving124%
Habits123%

Top 10 consumed skills:Leadership &management excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Communication skills1
Foundational leadership2
Effective meeting strategy3
Personal productivity4
Time management5
Presentation skills6
Digital transformation7
Emotional intelligence8
Management skills9
Design thinking10

Marketing

Marketers are focusing on digital strategy, advertising, and measurement

Digital marketing strategies to personalize customer experiences are surging in importance, particularly through effective SEO and social media tactics. Deploying advertising and measuring its success are essential components of these strategies. These marketing methods offer one of the most fertile use cases for implementing generative AI tools, allowing marketers to work more effectively.

Top 10 surging skills:Marketing excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Advertising strategy1,118%
Public relations334%
Marketing management204%
Marketing plan150%
Google Analytics reports analysis122%
Neuromarketing100%
Marketing strategy81%
Google Tag Manager78%
Programmatic advertising68%
YouTube marketing61%

Top 10 consumed skills:Marketing excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Digital marketing1
Marketing strategy2
Social media marketing3
Google Analytics4
Writing5
Advertising strategy6
SEO7
Marketing analytics8
Marketing plan9
Google Ads10

Office productivity

Every role, every team requires efficiency and fundamental productivity

As organizations embrace remote or hybrid work models, these productivity skills become even more crucial for seamless virtual collaboration and task management. By prioritizing learning programs that focus on productivity skills, L&D leaders can equip their workforces with the competencies needed to remain efficient and successful in today’s digital-centric work landscape, ultimately driving productivity and organizational growth.

Top 10 surging skills:Office productivity excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Notion326%
Microsoft Excel tools199%
Apple MacOS basics199%
Microsoft Teams128%
Microsoft OneNote119%
Microsoft Power Automate119%
Email productivity hacks105%
Note taking103%
Microsoft Outlook95%
Foundational computer topics71%

Top 10 consumed skills:Office productivity excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Microsoft Excel tools1
Microsoft PowerPoint2
Microsoft Power Automate3
Pivot tables4
Microsoft Word5
Microsoft SharePoint6
Microsoft Power Platform7
Microsoft Teams8
Microsoft Office 3659
Microsoft Outlook10

Project and product management

Project and product management are more essential all the time

There’s a growing need for project managers in today’s world of work; they align teams, create efficient and transparent processes, help keep everyone on track, and move things forward. All of this explains why there’s a growing need for these skills in the workplace, with project management employment predicted to grow 28% worldwide between 2019 and 2030.

Top 10 surging skills: Project & product management excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)593%
Project planning208%
Product development135%
Oracle Primavera133%
Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification132%
Product owner123%
Project risk management108%
Lean Six Sigma106%
Six Sigma White Belt certification92%
monday.com software82%

Top 10 consumed skills: Project & product management excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Foundational project management1
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification2
Agile3
Scrum4
Jira software5
Product management6
PMI Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMI PMBOK)7
Professional Scrum Master (PSM) certification8
Confluence9
Six Sigma Green Belt certification10

Sales

Skills to make the sale — and use key technologies to do it

Sales and customer success teams are essential when it comes to maintaining business continuity and sustaining growth during challenging economic times. Sales technologies help them stay the course; topics that leverage sales and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software giants SAP and Salesforce rank high. So do courses to support customer service and success so that customers see results and renew.

Top 8 surging skills: Sales excellence*

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

SAP sales tools**71%
Sales management70%
B2B sales61%
Foundational sales topics57%
Customer success management56%
Customer service37%
Salesforce software26%
Prospecting and lead generation14%

Top 10 consumed skills: Sales excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

SAP sales tools**1
Customer service2
Salesforce software3
Foundational sales topics4
Customer success management5
B2B sales6
Prospecting and lead generation7
Business development8
Sales management9
Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant10

Workplace & human resources

HR teams leverage analytics to take on many functions

In many organizations, the HR team, or people team, often has outsized responsibilities in proportion to headcount. Yet, they serve a multitude of needs, including recruiting, interviewing, and hiring talent. Many HR teams also take on learning and development. HR analytics make it possible to collect and use data for a better understanding of talent management, helping businesses make the most of their most valuable resource: their employees.

Top 7 surging skills: Workplace & human resources excellence*

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

HR analytics209%
Foundational HR topics 75%
Hiring42%
Recruiting37%
Corporate learning & development26%
Interviewing skills17%
Workplace health & safety10%

Top 10 consumed skills: Workplace & human resources excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Interviewing skills1
Corporate learning & development2
Foundational HR topics3
Recruiting4
Workplace health &safety5
HR analytics6
Hiring7
HIPAA compliance8
Talent management9
IT recruiting10

* Seven skills in the workplace & human resources skills category saw positive surging consumption during the July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, time frame, as compared to the prior year.

For this report, we analyzed data from thousands of our customers around the world. We calculated total consumption by Udemy Business learners across all course topics for the year from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. We calculated the percentage growth in consumption compared to the year from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022. Some data categorization has been slightly modified for clarity.

Meeting the pace of change with data, application development, and cloud computing expertise

Tech moves fast, and employees’ skills must adapt to industry shifts while keeping foundational knowledge sharp. Mastery of cloud computing topics and demonstration of that mastery by earning certifications in cloud computing platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure help tech teams to scale infrastructure, drive efficiencies, and make the most of their cloud investment. 

Software, IT, and data science teams continue to use time-honored development languages and web frameworks like Python, SQL, JavaScript, and React, placing these skills among the most-learned technical topics.

Top surging technical skills like Microsoft Playwright and Tricentis Tosca support the growing automation of the software development lifecycle.

Top 10 surging technical skills

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics799%
Software design624%
Simulink578%
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200) certification464%
International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) certification402%
Computer-aided design (CAD) software368%
Microsoft Playwright361%
Tricentis Tosca342%
Tailwind CSS332%
dbt (Data Build Tool)271%

Top 10 consumed technical skills

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Python1
Java2
Microsoft certification exam prep3
Amazon Web Services (AWS)4
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner5
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate6
React7
JavaScript8
SQL9
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification10

Cloud

Companies continue to invest in the cloud to do more with less

Public cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud allow organizations to scale technical infrastructure across regions and adapt to customer demand. A multi-cloud approach allows companies to create a tech stack that meets their unique needs. Employees are consuming cloud certification prep courses to gain the skills needed to manage cloud platforms and pass exams that can boost their career growth.

Top 10 surging skills:Cloud computing excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Microsoft Azure Internet of Things (IoT)195%
Google Cloud Digital Leader certification140%
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Microsoft Azure Active Directory)123%
Microsoft Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)91%
Amazon Web Services (AWS) CodePipeline88%
HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) Packer77%
Salesforce Certified Platform Developer I75%
OpenStack Cloud74%
Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer69%
Google Cloud certification67%

Top 10 consumed skills:Cloud computing excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Amazon Web Services (AWS)1
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner2
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate3
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification4
AWS Certified Developer – Associate5
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) certification6
Microsoft Azure7
Foundational cloud computing8
Google Associate Cloud Engineer certification9
Spring Cloud10

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity skills safeguard enterprises and build customer trust

Organizations are investing in cybersecurity best practices and encouraging their employees to earn related certifications so that they’re equipped to protect proprietary and customer information. As governments adopt cybersecurity compliance guidelines for companies operating in their jurisdictions, these skills become increasingly important for all technical teams, from IT to data science to software development.

Top 10 surging skills:Cybersecurity excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200) certification 464%
Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst skills222%
Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer certification180%
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Enterprise Infrastructure certification178%
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification163%
ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)147%
CompTIA PenTest+ certification127%
Data security88%
IT governance81%
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900) certification71%

Top 10 consumed skills:Cybersecurity excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Foundational cybersecurity1
CompTIA Security+ certification2
Ethical hacking3
AWS Certified Security – Specialty4
Microsoft Azure Security Technologies (AZ-500) certification5
Network security6
Penetration testing7
Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst Skills8
CompTIA PenTest+ certification9
Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900) certification10

Data science

Smart business decisions start with data

Foundational data analysis skills and tools like Microsoft Power BI and Tableau enable technical and non-technical teams alike to make data-driven decisions. As companies take in more data at the same time that they create more data, they need to ensure data sources and storage are managed properly. This phenomenon explains the growth of data engineering and data quality management learning.

Top 10 surging skills:Data science excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics799%
dbt (Data Build Tool)271%
Data engineering269%
Data quality management232%
NumPy147%
SAP Certified Application Associate – SAP Analytics Cloud130%
Microsoft Azure Machine Learning102%
Google Looker Studio102%
Data governance89%
MLOps84%

Top 10 consumed skills:Data science excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Microsoft Power BI1
Foundational data science2
Machine learning3
Python for data science4
Data analysis5
Data modeling6
Tableau7
Statistics8
Artificial intelligence9
Apache Spark10

Design

Great user experience begins with design

A well-designed customer experience is integral to a product team’s success, whether they’re creating software or manufactured goods. Skills that help the creation of physical goods, like computer-aided design (CAD) software and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) methods, are growing across industries. Design and video production tools like Figma, Canva, and DaVinci Resolve offer professional-grade capabilities to non-professionals, helping the smallest teams produce top-quality work.

Top 10 surging skills:Design excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Computer-aided design (CAD) software368%
Geometric dimensioning &tolerancing (GD&T)240%
Siemens NX144%
Figma142%
Canva134%
DaVinci Resolve98%
Color theory97%
Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA)92%
Autodesk Fusion 36088%
Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA)84%

Top 10 consumed skills:Design excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

User experience design1
Web design2
Graphic design3
Blender4
User interface design5
Figma6
Adobe Photoshop7
Adobe After Effects8
3D modeling9
Adobe Illustrator10

Development

Testing and automation tools enable software reliability and efficiency

Skills in software testing and automation tools are gaining popularity as companies advance their DevOps methods to increase speed and quality. Web development skills go beyond the ability to use specific programming languages or frameworks — although Java, Python, and React remain the most-consumed development topics on Udemy Business.

Top 10 surging skills:Development excellence

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Software design624%
Simulink578%
Microsoft Playwright361%
Tricentis Tosca342%
Tailwind CSS332%
Datadog263%
MATLAB260%
Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP)230%
FastAPI206%
Oracle APEX200%

Top 10 consumed skills:Development excellence

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Java1
Python for web development2
React3
JavaScript4
SQL5
Angular6
Selenium WebDriver7
Spring Boot8
Kubernetes9
Spring Framework10

For this report, we analyzed data from thousands of our customers around the world. We calculated total consumption by Udemy Business learners across all course topics for the year from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. We calculated the percentage growth in consumption compared to the year from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022. Some data categorization has been slightly modified for clarity.

The fastest-moving skills quickly become business critical

The speed of change is requiring faster upskilling than ever before. Topics that saw hardly any consumption the previous year are leaping forward, with massive gains in learning hours as they become almost instantly essential to employees.

ChatGPT and generative AI are case in point. These tools came into existence in November of 2022, and now have seen off-the-charts growth in learning. The same can be said for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) skills, though the growth has been slightly less explosive.

Digital marketing strategies, including advertising, have seen strong increases in learning engagement. This is in part because this area is fertile ground for generative AI usage.

Top 10 hottest skills

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

OpenAI’s ChatGPT*4,419%
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)3,128%
Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer certification1,454%
Behavioral economics1,326%
Advertising strategy1,118%
Certification and software test-taking preparation1,044%
Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics799%
Autodesk 3ds Max780%
DevSecOps730%
Software design624%

* Because ChatGPT came out in late 2022, we used data from our Q1 Workplace Learning Skills Index for this data point.

Certifications validate skills mastery

Certifications offer leaders the confidence that their teams have deep knowledge of the tools and methodologies that spur innovation. For employees, these certifications are an essential step in career advancement.

Udemy Business offers learners over 150 certification prep topics so that they can develop and demonstrate skills mastery in the subjects most important for their organizations. The greatest growth in certification prep courses this year took place in topics including Google Cloud, cybersecurity, project management, and financial analysis.  

Top 10 surging skills:Certification preparation

Ranked by increase in consumption

% increase

Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer certification1,454%
Scrum Alliance Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)595%
Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200) certification465%
ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) 4 Foundation certification347%
Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (PCEP)231%
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification 175%
Google Cloud Digital Leader certification140%
CompTIA PenTest+ certification127%
Microsoft Power Platform App Maker Associate (PL-100) certification119%
Databricks Certified Associate Developer for Apache Spark117%

Top 10 consumed skills:Certification preparation

Ranked by total consumption

Rank

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Cloud Practitioner1
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate2
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification3
AWS Certified Developer – Associate4
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification 5
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)6
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) certification7
CompTIA Security+ certification8
CompTIA A+ certification9
Google Associate Cloud Engineer certification10

For this report, we analyzed data from thousands of our customers around the world. We calculated total consumption by Udemy Business learners across all course topics for the year from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. We calculated the percentage growth in consumption compared to the year from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2022. Some data categorization has been slightly modified for clarity.