New Coursera report shows strong employer and student ROI for industry micro-credentials: higher starting salaries, greater work-readiness, reduced training costs  

By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer, Coursera

I’m excited to share Coursera’s Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025, which brings together perspectives from over 2,000 students and employers across six regions to better understand the rising demand for micro-credentials and their real-world impact. The global survey found that 90% of employers are now willing to offer higher starting salaries—often 10–15% more—for candidates with micro-credentials, and 87% of employers have hired at least one micro-credential holder in the past year. 

Recent WEF research indicates that employers perceive skills gaps as the primary barrier to business transformation. Meanwhile, students are increasingly concerned about whether a traditional degree will equip them with the skills they need to land a job in a competitive labor market. Micro-credentials have emerged as a solution: preparing graduates for the modern workplace, and giving employers assurance that entry-level hires actually have the skills required. 

The new report offers the strongest evidence yet that employers and students worldwide are receiving tangible returns from these credentials. We find that:

Learners who earn micro-credentials get hired. Once hired, these employees earn raises and promotions, and perform better in their roles.

• 85% of employers are more likely to hire a candidate who has a micro-credential compared to one without; 96% say that earning a micro-credential improves a candidate’s application
• Entry-level employees with micro-credentials report tangible career benefits: 28% received a pay increase and 21% were promoted after earning a micro-credential
• 70% say their productivity increased after earning a micro-credential, and over 60% (63%) developed better problem-solving skills
• 71% of entry-level employees feel uneasy about their industry’s pace of change, but 83% said micro-credentials give them the confidence to adapt to new roles 
• 91% say that employees with micro-credentials demonstrate higher proficiency in essential, industry-relevant skills

9 in 10 employers are now using micro-credentials to facilitate skills-based hiring. They report more work-ready hires and reduced training costs. 

• Nearly all employers (97%) are already using or actively exploring skills-based hiring
• 92% of employers say that graduates with micro-credentials possess skills that are immediately applicable to job role
• 9 in 10 (89%) employers that have hired candidates with micro-credentials have saved on training costs for entry-level hires, with 90% of these employers saving between 10-30% in annual training costs

Almost all students want their universities to offer credit-bearing micro-credentials. When offered, they drive higher enrollments, boost engagement, and improve employability. 

• 94% of students want micro-credentials to count 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 are 2.4x (88%) more likely to enroll if they are credit-bearing 
• Students are twice as likely to remain engaged in a program that offers micro-credentials, with engagement soaring to nearly 90% if they are credit-bearing
• 94% of students agree that micro-credentials help build essential career skills

Students also want their degrees to offer GenAI training, and employers want graduates with those skills. Despite overwhelming demand, few have earned GenAI credentials at university.

• 93% of students believe GenAI training belongs in degree programs, and 94% of employers believe universities should equip graduates with GenAI skills for entry-level roles
• Students are 2.5x (89%) more likely to enroll in a degree if GenAI micro-credentials are offered
• 92% of employers are more likely to hire a candidate with a GenAI micro-credential than one without one
• 3 in 4 employers say they’d hire a less experienced candidate with a GenAI credential over someone more experienced without one
• However, only 17% of students have already earned a GenAI micro-credential to-date

Francesca Lockhart, Professor and Cybersecurity Clinic Program Lead, University of Texas at Austin, said: “Employer demand for skills-based hiring requires educators to prioritize skills-based learning. We must adapt our curricula to prepare students for a job market where desired qualifications are shifting too quickly for traditional education to keep pace.”

To gain a deeper understanding of how these credentials are shaping concrete career outcomes and workforce readiness, Coursera surveyed over 1,000 employers and 1,200 learners worldwide.

This research provides compelling evidence that, as technological change and economic uncertainty reshape education and work, micro-credentials are driving stronger outcomes for students, employers, and universities.
Download the full report here. To learn more about Coursera for Campus, visit coursera.org/campus. 

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