Online learning boom: LinkedIn data shows rate of pandemic learning

Brits invested over 1.3 million hours learning new skills over the past year, a 153% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network. 

 As many people adapted to working from home during the pandemic and found more time on their hands during lockdown, many turned to online learning to develop new skills and enhance existing ones. LinkedIn noted a surge in people learning essential soft skills, such as time management and emotional intelligence, as well as basic tech skills, such as Excel and Microsoft Teams. Globally, the number of people learning soft skills doubled year-over-year. 

 Top 10 most popular LinkedIn Learning courses in the UK over the past year: 

1. Strategic Thinking
2. Learning Python
3. Time Management: Working from Home
4. Excel 2016 Essential Training
5. Excel Essential Training (Office 365)
6. Remote Work Foundations
7. Developing Your Emotional Intelligence
8. Microsoft Teams Essential Training
9. Jodi Glickman on Pitching Yourself
10. Project Management Foundations

 Top 10 most popular LinkedIn Learning courses globally over the past year: 

1. Time Management: Working from Home
2. Strategic Thinking
3. Remote Work Foundations
4. Learning Python
5. Developing Your Emotional Intelligence
6. Excel 2016 Essential Training
7. Excel Essential Training (Office 365)
8. Communicating with Confidence
9. Cert Prep: Project Management Professional (PMP)®
10. Project Management Foundations

Namrata Murlidhar, Director at LinkedIn, said: “2020 has been a year of change as people adapted to new ways of working or saw their employment circumstances change due to the global pandemic. Many have invested time developing new skills to help get them through, particularly soft skills which are highly valued by companies today and have grown in importance in recent years. Likewise, basic technology skills have become more popular as companies adapt to remote working. Learning new skills or developing existing ones can help people be great at their job today and open doors to new opportunities in the future. It can also help people improve their confidence which is particularly beneficial to anyone who has been out of the workplace for a while.”