Dive Brief:

• Women may have dropped out of the workforce in large numbers during the pandemic, but their participation in online learning has increased since 2019, Coursera, an education website that enrolls online learners in university courses and professional certifications, said in its Women and Skills Report, released Sept. 9. 
• Thirty-seven percent of entry-level professional certificate enrollments were from women in 2021, Coursera found, compared with 25% in 2019. In addition, 37% of enrollments in STEM courses were from women (compared to 31% in 2019). Half of all new learners this year were women, compared to 45% in 2019.
• North America was the one region evaluated with more female than male learners, at 51%, according to Coursera's broader Global Skills Report. However, "emerging countries have seen the most dramatic year-over-year increases," Coursera said in its summary of its research, noting that enrollments by women in the Philippines grew by 774%, Lebanon by 729% and Uruguay by 565%. 

Dive Insight:

The growth in online learning and increased pursuit of professional certificates among women is a positive signal during a year in which they left the workforce in droves. The dropout has been both a matter of choice, often due to caregiving obligations, and one of force, as job losses hit women especially hard in the early days of the pandemic. 

Businesses have made a variety of decisions intended to bring women back in the wake of their mass exodus. Earlier this year, job site Indeed and professional platform Luminary partnered on a fellowship intended to help women, especially women of color, connect with job training, coaching and placement. Some companies expanded caregiving and family-supportive benefits, partnering with providers like Joshin and Pumpspotting to create a more women-friendly environment at work. 

Coursera's data shows that women are also eager to learn and develop in their professional skills. In fact, upskilling and training opportunities appeal across the workforce, which could explain why investment in training didn't dip in 2020, despite budgetary challenges. Employers that make upskilling and training available to all employees and encourage their use may be better positioned to appeal to and retain female workers.