Coursera, the world’s largest distance learning platform, has just launched its 2025 Microcredentials Impact Report, based on two global surveys conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, gathering insights from over 1,000 employers and 1,200 students across ten countries: United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey.
The report indicates that 94% of Brazilian employers are willing to offer higher starting salaries to candidates who hold 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 pointing to reductions of up to 20%.
In Brazil, UX Design emerged as a high-demand skill — just behind GenAI and Cybersecurity. Additionally, 100% of surveyed employers are already using or exploring skills-based hiring, with many highlighting the need for robust accreditation frameworks to ensure consistent quality.
“With virtually all Brazilian employers now prioritizing GenAI and microcredentials in hiring decisions, the shift to skills-based hiring is no longer a trend — it’s a reality, with microcredentials influencing hiring decisions, employability outcomes, and workplace productivity,” said Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. “With this growing momentum around skills-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.”
Check out other insights from Brazil in the 2025 Microcredentials Report:
– 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.
– 98% of employers saved on training costs for entry-level hires with relevant microcredentials, with most reporting savings of up to 20%.
– Top 3 most sought-after courses on Coursera by Brazilians: Google’s Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, IBM’s Professional Certificate in Data Engineering and DeepLearning.AI’s Generative AI for Software Development Skill Certificate.
