Hi Guilherme, how are you? This is Bruna Nunes from Coursera’s press office, the world’s largest platform for online courses.
Coursera has just released the Impact Report of Microcredentials 2025 (that is, of fast courses). We had some great insights from Brazil, some of them:
– All employers (100%) are already using or exploring competency-based hiring, with many highlighting the need for robust accreditation structures to ensure consistent quality.
– 95% of Brazilian employers say they are more likely to hire candidates with credentials offering academic credits than those without these credentials.
– 95% of Brazilian employers say microcredentials strengthen a professional’s application.
– 97% of employers hired at least one professional with a microcredential in the past year.
– 94% of employers are willing to offer higher starting salaries to professionals with microcredentials, with even greater incentives for those offering academic credits or focusing on generative AI (GenAI).
– 98% of employers saved on training costs for entry-level hires with relevant microcredentials, with most reporting savings of up to 20%.
– In Brazil, UX Design emerged as a highly demanded skill — right behind GenAI and Cybersecurity.
– The most sought-after skills in Brazil in 2024 were Generative AI, Data Strategy, Digital Marketing & E-Commerce.
– Top 3 courses most sought after on Coursera by Brazilians: Google’s Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, IBM’s Professional Certificate in Data Engineering, DeepLearning.AI’s Generative AI Skill Certificate for Software Development.
I’m sending the press release with more details. If you’d like to speak with our spokesperson, just let me know. Are you interested in the topic?
Thank you!
[Research] 94% of employers offer higher starting salaries to candidates with microcredentials in GenAI according to Coursera
New Coursera report highlights increase in demand for microcredentials, hiring changes driven by generative AI, and the growing impact of these certifications on transforming the Brazilian workforce
São Paulo, May 2025: Competency-based hiring is accelerating in Brazil, with 100% of Brazilian employers already adopting or exploring this approach to address talent shortages, according to the Microcredentials Impact Report 2025, from Coursera. The report reveals that microcredentials are becoming an essential tool to enable this change, with 97% of Brazilian employers already hiring candidates who possess them. Nearly all (95%) Brazilian employers are more likely to hire candidates with microcredentials in generative AI (GenAI) rather than those who do not have them – one of the highest levels of preference for these skills in Latin America.
Based on insights from over 2,000 employers and students globally, including Brazil, the report highlights the growing demand for microcredentials and their practical impact. The majority of Brazilian employers (94%) are willing to offer higher starting salaries to candidates with these certifications – one of the highest percentages in the world. Among those who have already hired candidates with microcredentials, 98% reported real savings in training costs in the first year, with most citing reductions of up to 20%.
These findings are in line with the increasing commitment of Brazilian universities to competency-based education. More institutions are offering microcredentials aligned with industry needs, allowing students to earn credits for industry-recognized certifications and apply them to their undergraduate courses – bridging the gap between academic learning and skills demanded by the job market. As the country advances in its digital transformation and the global race for AI literacy intensifies, this approach becomes increasingly critical to close Brazil’s technological skills gap. Students are responding to this shift: across Latin America, students are 3.7 times more likely to enroll in graduate programs when microcredentials with credits or focused on GenAI are offered.
“With virtually all Brazilian employers now prioritizing GenAI and microcredentials in hiring decisions, the shift to competency-based hiring has moved from a trend to a reality, with microcredentials influencing hiring decisions, employability outcomes, and workplace productivity,” said Marni Baker Stein, Coursera’s Chief Content Officer. “With this growing momentum around competency-based education, students and employers are signaling that universities must accelerate the integration of industry-aligned microcredentials to ensure students graduate prepared for the demands of the modern job market.”
Key Findings in Brazil:
Evidence of generative AI skills (GenAI) is a priority for Brazilian employers when making hiring decisions:
- 95% prefer a less experienced candidate with GenAI certification over a more experienced one without this qualification
- 99% want universities to graduate professionals with GenAI skills for entry-level positions
- 96% state that GenAI will provide a strategic advantage for their organizations
Brazilian employers are embracing microcredentials for hiring and training:
- 95% say microcredentials strengthen a professional’s application
- 93% agree that graduates with microcredentials are job-ready
- 98% are willing to train their current workforce with microcredentials
- 95% prefer to hire candidates with certifications offering academic credits
Microcredentials are influencing the choices and outcomes of Brazilian students:
- 1 in every 3 Brazilian students has obtained a microcredential
- The probability of enrollment in a degree course jumps from 24% (when no microcredential is offered) to 88% when microcredentials are made available. This probability increases even further when microcredentials offer credits or teach skills in GenAI
- 94% believe that obtaining a microcredential will help them succeed in their work
As Brazil aims to become a global hub for qualified digital talent, the Microcredentials Impact Report from Coursera provides the strongest evidence to date that these certifications are helping to fill skills gaps, reduce hiring risks, and accelerate workforce transformation. To download the full report and explore the key findings, click here.
Methodology
The Impact Report of Microcredentials 2025 from Coursera is based on two global surveys conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, gathering insights from over 1,000 employers and 1,200 students in ten countries: United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey. Employers shared their views on hiring trends, return on investment, and differential salaries for microcredentials, while students reported their motivations, career impacts, and preferences for academic credits.
