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As technology continues its relentless march forward, the demand for upskilling employees has surged to the forefront of corporate agendas worldwide.

In Coursera’s third annual Job Skills Report, leadership, cybersecurity, and AI have witnessed a remarkable surge in enrollment on its platform. The latest report also reveals e-commerce as the fastest-growing skill of the year. The top ten skills are media strategy and planning, system security, search engine optimization, customer success, Power BI, Linux, systems design, audit, and marketing management.

The report, titled The Job Skills of 2024, reveals a dynamic landscape of rapidly evolving skills. 

Noteworthy standouts in the business skills category include adaptability, customer success, and customer relationship management, while Power BI and PostgreSQL gain prominence in data science.

GenAI searches quadrupled in 2023 compared to the previous year. 

AI-related skills, reflected in the course Generative AI for Everyone, set a record with 43,000 enrollments in its inaugural week, underscoring the growing importance of AI proficiency. Coursera now offers over 800 AI-related courses. Investing in AI-related skills will be key for increasing productivity and preparing learners for an AI-enabled world.

In the tech skills arena, android development, react (web framework), and front-end web development emerge as top priorities for learners. 

Half the top skills pertain to cybersecurity, ranking system security among the ten fastest-growing. 

Business skills dominate the fastest-growing skills list, with digital marketing and customer experience skills leading. 

Data visualization maintains its upward trajectory, emphasizing the persisting importance of this digital skill. Web development and computing skills are in high demand, focusing on web frameworks and cloud computing to address ongoing shortages in these critical areas for job seekers.

Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, says companies must focus on upskilling their employees. “In a world increasingly reshaped by technology, AI, and globalization, companies must equip individuals with the right skills to promote career success and stay competitive. Global talent shortages are at a 17-year high, and four out of five employers struggle to find skilled talent.”