More students seek skills for jobs — global study
UTAH, UNITED STATES — A new study of over 6,000 students, faculty, and administrators across 17 countries found that students increasingly value skills-based learning to advance their careers, according to a report from education technology company Instructure.
The study methodology included online surveys of current higher education students, faculty, and administrators. Of the respondents, 80% were students and 20% were educators.
61% of students said career advancement influences them to pursue skills-based learning opportunities, which provide practical workforce skills. Over half also cited the desire to learn new skills (61%) and program cost and flexibility (52% and 48%) as motivators.
Certificates and apprenticeships stood out among learning opportunities to pursue after college, with 56% and 38% of students likely to consider them, respectively. These programs give tangible proof of skills for employers. Overall, 74% viewed certificates and apprenticeships positively.
Instructure’s Chief Academic Officer Melissa Loble said students no longer learn skills linearly but independently as careers shift.
“As the workplace continues to evolve, students are exploring alternative learning options, such as skills-based certificate and apprenticeship programs, that provide flexibility and allow them to get into the workforce faster or upskill and explore different career paths,” Loble explained.
Instructure’s study aligns with another research from LinkedIn that found more than 50% of hirers on their platform explicitly use skills data to fill their roles. It added that companies with a skills-based hiring approach could find 19 times more workers than those relying on degree requirements.
As demand rises for connecting education directly to career needs, institutions can adapt by offering more skills-based and flexible learning paths that provide personalized, experiential learning and performance feedback. They should also ensure certificate and apprenticeship visibility and tailor them to lifelong learners.
