Dive Brief:
- A class on Python called Programming for Everybody was the most popular course taken by enterprise learners on Coursera's platform in 2020, according to a Dec. 2 announcement from the online learning provider. Agile Software Development, AI for Everyone and two data science courses rounded out the top five.
- Three of the top five courses are from universities, one is from deeplearning.ai and one is from IBM. Four of the top five Guided Project offerings taken in 2020 are related to programming, as well, with the final one a project on Google Spreadsheets basics.
- Agile Software Development, Artificial Neural Networks and Python were among the top trending skills highlighted by Coursera. The other two were Contact Tracing and Project Management.
Dive Insight:
Due to COVID-19, most employers have moved at least some of their training online, according to data from the Association for Talent Development, to ensure employee development can continue even if people are working remotely.
During the pandemic, online learning providers such as Cornerstone, Udemy and LinkedIn reported significant increases in activity. While technical subjects were popular, resilience, collaboration and "growth mindset" classes saw increases in interest. After nationwide protests in June, interest in courses around diversity and inclusion saw significant increases, as well.
Skillsoft recently reported that a course on communicating through Microsoft Teams saw 189x growth in usage and a course on emotional intelligence had a 278x increase in use. The company also reported 12x growth in a course on inclusion and unconscious bias and a 10x increase in a course titled "Diversity: Its Value in the Workplace."
These online learning providers are all seeing growth in the market as well; many that spoke with HR Dive reported a rise in their services being used for enterprise talent development and diversity strategies. For example, in late-October, Udemy announced it has crossed $100 million in annual recurring revenue just five years after launching its enterprise product. TechCrunch reports the value of the company to be over $3 billion.
Technical training remains a priority for employers, workers and even those currently displaced from the workforce. Randstad recently launched a program with Udemy focused on technical training and Google, in partnership with SHRM, pushed a program focused on tech training for diverse candidates. Microsoft has embarked on a national campaign to improve digital literacy and technical skill sets in the labor force, and many public advocates are adamant that a policy solution may also exist to help meet the skills gap that is still causing problems for employers and job-seekers alike.
