LinkedIn announces Most Popular Courses of the year

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network announced the Most Popular Courses list in India shedding a light how LinkedIn members are investing their time learning online. The annual Most Popular Courses list is a round-up of top courses taken most by LinkedIn members in the past year (from July 2019 to June 2020) and offers insight into topics that professionals globally are keen to learn in the current scenario. The list is based on the number of unique learners based in India and across the globe.

LinkedIn data shows that members on the platform have continued with their learning journey post the pandemic and online learning and upskilling continues to show an uptick in demand. In India, there has been an increase of 245% in the number of hours spent on learning from July 2019 to June 2020, compared to the same period a year before. Professionals across the globe continue to adapt to the new normal with active use of online learning and learning new skills that are most in-demand. As per the recent LinkedIn Learning stats, LinkedIn members spent over 420K hours learning in July 2020 alone, compared to 97K in July 2019 in India.

Globally, courses that are helping professionals achieve work-life balance and work better remotely top the list which points to LinkedIn members believing that soft skills are the need of the hour, as per LinkedIn Learning data. Technical courses ranging from brushing up on basics such as Office365 to nuanced skills like Project Management rounded up the Global Top Ten Courses. Check the 20 Most Popular LinkedIn Learning Courses of the Year.

In India, the list reflects an interest in both digital skills and adapting to remote working as part soft skills, and 5 out of 10 of these courses focus on soft skills.

Here are the top ten courses professionals are seeking the most in India:

Learning Python

Time Management: Working from Home

Strategic Thinking

Writing a Resume

Excel Essential Training (Office 365)

Cert Prep: Project Management Professional (PMP)®

Remote Work Foundations

Tips for Working Remotely

Python Essential Training

Communicating with Confidence

“Virtual learning continues to gain traction as professionals adjust to the new normal of remote working. In fact, LinkedIn Learning data shows that the hours spent learning in July 2020 is more than 3x the amount in July 2019. Professionals are striving to achieve skills diversity -- and transferable skills and soft skills such as time management, communication, and strategic thinking have become necessities in today's remote workplace. LinkedIn’s Most Popular Courses list reflects these shifts as professionals adapt to changes and become future-ready,” said Ruchee Anand, Director, LinkedIn Talent and Learning Solutions, India.

LinkedIn has made all the courses on the Most Popular Courses list free for all to use until 30 September 2020. LinkedIn Learning offers more than 16,400 courses across business, creative and technical categories, and since the pandemic, LinkedIn has made over 600 LinkedIn Learning courses free across seven languages to help members build skills for in-demand jobs like sales representative, graphic designer and digital marketer, and hone fundamental soft skills needed to navigate the challenging work environments many are currently facing.