Online Learning Leads to Career Gains: Coursera

Online education is supporting workforce development and personal growth in Mexico, according to Coursera's 2025 Learning Outcomes Report. Produced with The Harris Poll, the report analyzes responses from over 50,000 learners across 179 countries and highlights how digital training is shaping career mobility in a labor market undergoing rapid transformation.

Digital tools now play a central role in expanding access to quality education. In 2024, about 73.8 million people engaged in online learning across the world, a rise of almost 900% compared to 2000. Forecasts indicate that the global e-learning market could reach US$400 billion by 2026, according to Coursmos.

“Over the past decade, and especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of online education has been unprecedented,” writes Jaime Navarro, Executive Director Latin America, Blip, on MBN.

As this global expansion accelerates, Mexico faces its own transformation, with projections indicating a 40% shift in workforce skills over the next five years. Coursera positions online learning as a tool to help workers prepare for these changes as technology, economic uncertainty, and demographic trends continue to influence the employment landscape. According to the report, 88% of students in Mexico accessed the platform to support a career transition, secure their first job or move into higher-level roles.

The findings show that 91% of learners in Mexico reported a positive professional outcome after completing a Coursera course. Forty percent said they obtained a salary increase, 38% advanced to a higher-level position, and 29% improved on-the-job performance. Personal development outcomes were also widespread, with 95% reporting greater confidence in their ability to learn, a sense of achievement or improved opportunities for career growth.

Learners also indicated progress in technical and soft skills. In Mexico, respondents said they strengthened competencies in software development, data science, and AI, along with critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Coursera executives note that these areas remain central to the digital economy and to emerging hiring needs.

Dorota Zawistowska, Director of Enterprise for Latin America, Coursera, says that Mexican learners are demonstrating determination as they adapt to changes in the labor market. She emphasizes that education supports more than skill acquisition, noting that it opens new opportunities and builds confidence as individuals prepare for a skills-driven future.

“Roles will change or disappear, not in 10 years, but in three,” says Vera Makarov, Co-CEO, Apli. According to Mercer, 54% of Mexican HR leaders rank AI and automation integration as a top priority, while predictive models are already used to reduce turnover and improve hiring decisions.

The report also reviewed early results from Coursera Coach, the platform’s AI tool designed to provide personalized guidance. Globally, 94% of users who interacted with Coach said it improved their experience by helping them understand complex concepts.

Coursera says that the 2025 Learning Outcomes Report underscores the role of trusted content and digital tools in helping individuals develop capabilities for long-term professional success. The platform expects online learning to continue expanding as organizations and workers adapt to structural changes in employment and technology.