AI and cybersecurity emerge as fastest growing job skills in 2024, but ‘human’ skills also surge

New data released today by Coursera, one of the world’s largest online learning platforms, reveals the fastest growing job skills in 2024, based on insights from five million learners. To keep pace with evolving labour market demands, learners are embracing AI skills at a rapidly-accelerating rate. AI is now the fastest-growing skill among employees, job seekers and students in the UK and globally, with course enrollments in this domain having increased 866% year-over-year. 

These are the findings from Coursera’s fourth annual Job Skills Report, drawing on insights from over five million learners, who accessed Coursera through a university, business or government partner. Key insights from the report include:

• While AI skills surge globally, only 28% of courses were taken by women overall in 2024, creating an urgent need to address gendered disparities within the AI workforce
• Six of the ten fastest-growing tech skills this year are related to cybersecurity and risk management, amid a 71% YOY rise in cyber attacks
• Key human skills are also among the fastest-growing, as learners seek to build a balanced skills profile. Assertiveness and Communication were among the top 10 skills in 2024
• Three of the top 10 skills for students were sustainability focused, as the WEF ranks sustainability as the second fastest-growing job role from 2023 to 2027
• Generative AI, Workplace Technologies and Analytics were the top skills amongst job seekers 

Generative AI learning surges, including in the UK

Generative AI is now the fastest-growing skill amongst employees, students, and job seekers. In the UK, Generative AI was the top skill overall – with ‘Google AI Essentials’  the most popular course taken on Coursera’s platform by British learners – which represent 4.2 million of Coursera’s 162 million learners.  ‘AI for Everyone’ and ‘Supervised Machine Learning’ were also amongst the top 10 courses taken by UK learners. Notably, more than half (54%) of GenAI course enrollments come from learners in India, Colombia, and Mexico, signaling a shift in the globalization of AI talent and their availability in emerging markets. 

Women account for only 28% of AI enrollments 

Whilst AI skills surge globally, only 28% of Coursera’s GenAI course enrollments are from women.  

This is particularly concerning given 79% of working women—compared with 58% of working men—are employed in occupations susceptible to generative AI disruption. 

“When you look at the tech landscape today, it is clear that the gender gap remains pronounced. The gender gap in STEM has long been a problem, and now it’s becoming increasingly apparent in the field of AI” said Marni Baker-Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. 

“With only 22% of AI and data science professionals being women, the gender gap is a significant barrier that has consequences for both social equity, and the overall effectiveness of AI technology. Women cannot afford to be excluded from the global AI upskilling revolution. Encouraging women to pursue AI skills through educational initiatives and workplace policies will be crucial to narrowing the gender gap and ensuring AI benefits everyone.”

Cybersecurity is the fastest-growing technology skill – particularly in the UK

With 93% of organizations experiencing two or more identity-related breaches in the past year, demand for risk management and cybersecurity skills is rising. Six of the top ten fastest-growing tech skills this year are cybersecurity-related, including computer security, threat management & modeling, and network planning and design.

With cyber attacks costing the UK £44 billion in the past 5 years, Cybersecurity & Risk Management was the second most popular skill in the UK and ‘Cyber Security Essentials’ was the 4th most popular course overall in the UK in 2024 on Coursera’s platform. Additionally, more than half of public organizations cite a lack of resources and skills as their biggest obstacle to achieving cyber resilience, showing a gap that can be addressed through upskilling. 

Despite tech skills surging, human skills have also thrived.

Despite concerns about AI job displacement, Coursera’s data shows that human skills continue to hold value to businesses.  ‘Assertiveness’ and ‘Communication’ at work were among the top 10 skills in 2024. Whilst these human skills have been increasingly popular with employees and job seekers – fewer students are taking these courses. This is a concern, as Gen Z lags behind employees and job seekers here, with 71% of Gen Z workers finding it difficult to speak up and contribute in meetings.  

Prompt engineering skills a must for job seekers

With 22% of recruiting professionals updating job descriptions to reflect the use of GenAI, courses like Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT and Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics rank among the top 5 GenAI courses taken by students and job seekers. These skills are essential for effectively using AI tools in diverse professional contexts, making prompt engineering a critical competency for staying competitive in an AI-driven job market.

Nikolaz Foucaud, Managing Director EMEA, Coursera said: “With proliferation of, and advancements in, foundational models, GenAI will continue to reshape jobs and industries at an unprecedented rate. With the potential to unlock $15.7 trillion in global economic value by 2030, these gains will depend on our ability to help people develop skills to use AI effectively and make the most of its potential. In 2025, we expect the global race toward AI literacy to further accelerate.” 

“However, human skills remain essential, with 84% of managers insisting that new employees possess and demonstrate the ability to communicate in a professional manner and articulate their ideas. This report serves as a guide to better understand the human and technology skills needed to thrive in 2025 and beyond so everyone can learn, adapt, and succeed amid labour market change.”

Methodology

The fastest-growing skills of 2025 are identified through a comparative evaluation of Coursera enterprise learner enrollments throughout 2024. Out of 1,000+ granular skills cataloged in the Coursera taxonomy, the fastest-growing skills are those that have seen the biggest increase in their overall enrollment ranking in this period and are expected to continue to grow or stay popular in 2025. 

HRD Connect Curators of the New Business Landscape. HRD Connect produces industry-recognized content for senior HR leaders. Through articles, case studies, Q&As, podcasts, events, and more, we offer truly progressive and cutting-edge insights designed to help people leaders address core HR challenges and add greater value to their business.

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