The top 10 skills of 2023 (and how to start learning them) - Coursera Blog (2024)

Did you know? Between now and 2027, 60% of workers will need retraining due to global transformation and macrotrends.

That’s one of many findings in theWorld Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report. It reflects 800+ global employers’ views of skills and jobs over the next 5 years—and it features Coursera data that highlights fast upskilling and reskilling strategies.

The report also identifies the top 10 skills of 2023, and skills that are on the rise.

If you’re ready to get started with any of these skills, you can find options from top universities and companies on Coursera. To help, we identified some top rated programs on Coursera that map back to the World Economic Forum’s top 10 skills of 2023. And even better, all of the courses and programs below are included in Coursera Plus which means you can access all of them for one single price, easily switch between courses to find the right one for you, and earn unlimited certificates. Or, you could ask your manager to bring Coursera to your team with Coursera for Teams!

Let’s get to the top 10 skills of 2023 and how to start learning them

1. Analytical thinking
   • Exploring and Producing Data for Business Decision Making from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is great if you’re just getting started.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Basic Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Business Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Survey Creation, Research and Design, General Statistics, Decision Making, Analysis, and Microsoft Excel
   • Business Analytics for Decision Making from University of Colorado Boulder is great if you’re looking to go a little deeper.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Data Analysis, Research and Design, Business Analysis, Decision Making, Data Analysis Software, Strategy and Operations, Operations Research, Exploratory Data Analysis, Mathematical Optimization, Data Management
2. Creative thinking
   • Creative Thinking: Techniques and Tools for Success from Imperial College London is great if you’re just getting started.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Research and Design, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Leadership and Management, Human Learning, Business Psychology, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Brainstorming, Innovation, Communication, Collaboration, Business Analysis
3. Resilience, flexibility and agility
   • Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills from the University of Pennsylvania is great for beginners.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Business Psychology, Communication, People Development, Professional Development, Leadership and Management, Human Resources, Entrepreneurship, Emotional Intelligence, Personal Development, Resilience, Gratitude, Adaptability, Mindfulness
   • Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential from McMaster University is another great first step.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Entrepreneurship, Human Learning, Business Psychology, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership and Management, Lifelong Learning, Communication
4. Motivation and self-awareness
   • from Macquarie University is a good entry point.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Leadership and Management, Marketing, Communication, Strategy, Brand, Resource, Leadership, Strategy and Operations, Brand Management, Sales, Entrepreneurship, Motivation
   • Self Awareness and the Effective Leader from Rice University is another great option.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Leadership and Management, Professional Development, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Development, Communication, Business Psychology, Emotional Intelligence, Problem Solving, Resilience, Leadership
5. Curiosity and lifelong learning
   • Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects from Deep Teaching Solutions is a crowd favorite.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Personal Development, Business Psychology, Human Learning, Learning How To Learn, Entrepreneurship, Collaboration, Decision Making, Problem Solving, Learning To Learn, Test Preparation, Leadership and Management, Adaptability
6. Technological literacy
   • Surviving Disruptive Technologies from the University of Maryland, College Park is a great place to start.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Business Analysis, Leadership and Management, Business Transformation, Sales, Marketing, Strategy and Operations, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain and Logistics, Research and Design, Probability & Statistics, Leadership, Innovation, Risk, Statistical Tests, Strategic Planning, Planning, Change Management
7. Dependability and attention to detail
   • Putting Strengths to Work from ADP, Inc. is made for beginners.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Team Management, Storytelling, Professional Development, Mindfulness, Reflective Learning
8. Empathy and active listening
   • Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence from Case Western University is built for beginners.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Personal Development, Leadership and Management, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Influencing, Leadership Development, Business Psychology, Collaboration, Leadership, People Development, Change Management, Mindfulness
   • Conflict Transformation from Emory University is another great option.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Analysis, Communication, Conflict Resolution
9. Leadership and social influence
   • Leadership Through Social Influence from Northwestern University is a great place to start.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Entrepreneurship, Influencing, Communication, Marketing, Strategy and Operations, Leadership and Management, Leadership, Sales
   • Inclusive Leadership: The Power of Workplace Diversity from the University of Colorado System is great for all skill levels.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Leadership Development, Communication, Collaboration, People Development, Leadership and Management, Emotional Intelligence, Business Psychology, Culture, Business Analysis, Diversity (Business), Self-Awareness, Strategy and Operations, Data Analysis, Listening
   • Inspiring and Motivating Individuals from the University of Michigan is great when you’re ready to go deeper.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Leadership and Management, Human Resources, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Business Psychology, Leadership Development, Storytelling, Strategy, Employee Relations, Motivation, Business Communication, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Operations
10. Quality control
    • Project Execution: Running the Project from Google is a great starting point
      • Skills you’ll learn: Leadership and Management, Strategy and Operations, Communication, Project Management, Business Communication, Collaboration, Writing, Risk Management, Influencing, Storytelling, Project, Strategic Thinking, Leadership
    • Six Sigma Advanced Improve and Control Phases from the University System of Georgia can help you build more advanced skills.
      • Skills you’ll learn: Organizational Development, Business Psychology, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Management, Probability & Statistics, Strategy and Operations, General Statistics, Supply Chain Systems, Operations Management, Operational Analysis, Analysis, Process, Project Management, Mathematics, Trigonometric Integral, Project, Lean Six Sigma, Differential Equations, Six Sigma, Planning

What about skills on the rise?

Many are the same as the top 10 skills of 2023, with three additions:

1. AI and big data
   • The AI For Business Specialization from the University of Pennsylvania can be a great starting point.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Management, Analytics, Fraud Prevention
   • Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and Ethics from the University of California, Davis, is another great option for beginners.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Algorithms, Research Ethics, IBM Watson, Natural Language Programming (NLP), AI Ethics
2. Talent Management
   • The Leading People and Teams Specialization from the University of Michigan is a great starting point.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Vision Alignment, Talent Management, Goals and Rewards, How to Motivate Employees, Leadership, Goal Setting, Communication, Leadership Development, Onboarding, Coaching, Recruitment, Management
3. Service orientation and customer service
   • Introduction to Customer Service from CVS Health is a great place to get started.
     • Skills you’ll learn: Active Listening, Task Prioritization, Communication, Time Management

Which course will you try next?

Let us know by tagging @coursera on LinkedIn!