The 2025 Global Learning & Skills Trends Report from Udemy reveals increasing enterprise investments in soft skills development alongside generative AI applications.
Research from online learning platform Udemy highlights key trends in skills development, particularly around GenAI applications, soft skills, and leadership development.
According to Udemy’s President and CEO Greg Brown, companies are seeking GenAI’s practical applications to boost productivity and streamline operations. At the same time, they are placing increased focus on leadership and soft skills to guide employees through the behavioural changes associated with AI technology.
“In 2025, we’re all continuing to watch GenAI closely, expecting it to drive significant productivity gains, speed up skill-building, and fuel business growth faster than ever before,” said Greg Brown, President and CEO at Udemy.
“Our data shows enterprises are looking for practical GenAI solutions that can be applied to daily operations, while also investing in soft skills and leadership development to help support the massive behavior change that this technology represents. Organisations best positioned for success will be those who embrace GenAI’s positive impact on business outcomes, accelerating human potential, and closing key skills gaps to stay competitive.”
Soft Skills as a Complement to GenAI
Organisations are now moving beyond GenAI fundamentals, focusing on skills that enable immediate, applicable solutions in everyday operations. The report found that GenAI learning for productivity grew by 859 percent year-over-year, with courses focusing on practical GenAI applications gaining popularity. There is a strong demand among employees for advanced GenAI skills that extend beyond theoretical knowledge to tangible, operational skills.
While GenAI applications are a priority, Udemy’s report emphasises the importance of developing soft skills to complement AI-driven productivity. Enterprises are investing in skills like problem-solving (up by 103%), team building (79%), and business communication (41%). These skills support employee engagement and teamwork, helping staff to make the most of their time saved by AI technology through more strategic, people-centred work.
Udemy’s report also suggests that developing soft skills will be crucial as more companies encourage a return to in-person work environments in 2025. Strong interpersonal skills can help bridge communication gaps and increase collaboration, essential for creating cohesive, in-person work cultures, especially for employees returning to the office or experiencing it for the first time.
Leadership’s Role in GenAI Transformation
Need for Leadership
The report found there is a growing need for leadership to play an active role in guiding teams through AI-driven transformations, with ‘foundational leadership’ skills as one of the top ten business skills on its platform. According to the report, nearly nine out of ten employees believe that leadership is crucial to the success of GenAI initiatives, but only 48 percent think their leaders are fully prepared to manage these changes.
“Learning and development leaders are moving beyond whether or not GenAI will transform enterprise learning; now, we’re focused on how we can harness the power of GenAI across diverse use cases to realize immediate business impact and uncover each employee’s potential,” said Jim Hemgen, Principal and Director of Talent Development at technology company Booz Allen Hamilton.
“Investing in key skills like applying GenAI and leadership will help AI and human expertise work together to accelerate upskilling, make informed strategic decisions, and empower our workforce to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
Alessandra Pacelli is a journalist and author contributing to HRreview, an HR news and opinion publication, where she covers topics including labour market trends, employment costs, and workplace issues. She is a journalism graduate and self-described lifelong dog lover who has also written for Dogs Today magazine since 2014.
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
