By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer, Coursera

I’m thrilled to present Coursera’s Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025, which compiles insights from over 2,000 learners and employers across six regions to better comprehend the escalating demand for micro-credentials and their practical consequences. The global survey revealed that 90% of employers are now prepared to provide higher starting salaries—frequently 10–15% more—for candidates holding micro-credentials, and 87% of employers have recruited at least one micro-credential holder in the previous year.

Recent research from WEF suggests that employers view skill shortages as the major obstacle to business evolution. Simultaneously, students are increasingly anxious about whether a conventional degree will equip them with the necessary skills to secure employment in a competitive job market. Micro-credentials have surfaced as a remedy: preparing graduates for the contemporary workplace, while assuring employers that entry-level hires possess the essential skills.

The latest report presents the most convincing proof to date that both employers and students globally are witnessing tangible benefits from these credentials. Our findings include:

Individuals who obtain micro-credentials are more likely to be hired. Once employed, these individuals receive promotions and raises, and excel in their positions.

• 85% of employers are more inclined to recruit a candidate possessing a micro-credential versus one lacking it; 96% assert that acquiring a micro-credential enhances a candidate’s application
• Entry-level workers with micro-credentials report substantial career advancements: 28% experienced a salary increase and 21% received a promotion after achieving a micro-credential
• 70% indicate their productivity improved following the attainment of a micro-credential, and over 60% (63%) developed enhanced problem-solving abilities
• 71% of entry-level employees feel anxious about their industry’s rate of change, yet 83% stated micro-credentials provide them confidence to adjust to new roles
• 91% affirm that employees with micro-credentials demonstrate superior proficiency in crucial, industry-relevant skills

Ninety percent of employers are currently incorporating micro-credentials to enable skills-based recruitment. They report hiring candidates who are job-ready and lower training expenses.

• Almost all employers (97%) are presently utilizing or actively investigating skills-based hiring
• 92% of employers believe graduates with micro-credentials possess skills that are immediately relevant to job roles
• 9 out of 10 (89%) employers who have recruited candidates with micro-credentials have reduced training costs for entry-level hires, with 90% of these employers saving between 10-30% in annual training expenditures

The vast majority of students prefer their universities to provide credit-bearing micro-credentials. When available, they promote higher enrollments, increase engagement, and enhance employability.

• 94% of students desire micro-credentials to contribute towards their degree – up from 55% in 2023
• Globally, a student’s likelihood of enrolling in a program doubles (from 36% to 77%) when it offers micro-credentials, and is 2.4 times (88%) more inclined to enroll if they are credit-bearing
• Students are twice as likely to stay engaged in a program that provides micro-credentials, with engagement nearly reaching 90% for credit-bearing options
• 94% of students agree that micro-credentials aid in developing vital career skills

Students also wish for their degrees to include GenAI training, and employers seek graduates with those competencies. Despite significant demand, few have obtained GenAI credentials at university.

• 93% of students believe GenAI training should be integral to degree programs, and 94% of employers feel universities ought to prepare graduates with GenAI skills for entry-level positions
• Students are 2.5 times (89%) more likely to enroll in a degree if GenAI micro-credentials are included
• 92% of employers are more inclined to hire a candidate with a GenAI micro-credential compared to one without
• Three-quarters of employers state they would select a less experienced candidate with a GenAI credential over a more experienced one lacking such a credential
• However, merely 17% of students have successfully earned a GenAI micro-credential to date

Francesca Lockhart, Professor and Cybersecurity Clinic Program Lead at the University of Texas at Austin, remarked: “The demand from employers for skills-based hiring necessitates that educators focus on skills-oriented learning. We must modify our curricula to prepare students for a job market where the requirements are changing too swiftly for conventional education to keep up.”

To deepen the understanding of how these credentials are influencing tangible career results and workforce readiness, Coursera surveyed over 1,000 employers and 1,200 learners globally.

This analysis offers compelling evidence that, as technological advancements and economic uncertainty redefine education and work, micro-credentials are cultivating improved outcomes for students, employers, and universities.
Download the complete report here. For more information about Coursera for Campus, visit coursera.org/campus.

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