Coursera: 68% European nations are at the top of the global skills hierarchy

The global skills landscape is ever-changing – so much so it can be difficult to keep up with which skills are most in demand across the globe.

Drawing on data from more than 170 million learners, online course provider Coursera reveals which countries are ahead of globe skills proficiency and which are falling behind. 

In an exclusive conversation with Marni Baker Stein, Coursera’s Chief Content Officer, UNLEASH explores what these skills are, as well as why balancing AI expertise with human skills has never been more critical.

Which countries rank highest in global skills proficiency?

The report found that European nations are at the top of the global skills hierarchy, with 68% of the world’s top-performing countries based in Europe, with Switzerland 1st, Netherlands 2nd, and Sweden 3rd, of the 109-nation examined. 

APAC regional talent hubs were also found to be highly competitive, with Singapore ranking 4th, Hong Kong 13th, South Korea 14th, and Japan 17th in the global top 20. 

“Despite signs of upward mobility from major Anglophone nations – the UK rises to 22nd, Australia to 23rd, and the US to 27th – they are still lagging behind their continental European and Asia-Pacific peers in our annual audit of the global skills landscape,” Baker Stein shares. 

This year, the report featured a new section, looking at AI maturity across the globe. This was because Gen AI was found to be the fastest-growing skills category on the platform, with course enrollments growing from one per minute in 2023, eight per minute in 2024, to 12 per minute in 2025.  

“In our inaugural AI Maturity Index, a similar pattern emerges: established global economies are leading the race to achieve AI readiness, with Singapore 1st, Denmark 2nd, Switzerland 3rd, and the US 4th – topping the table,” Baker Stein adds. 

“With targeted, strategic emphasis on AI development in areas like Silicon Valley, where 40% of money raised by US start-ups last year came from AI-focused funds; and the EU, which offered €200 billion for investment in AI through the AI Continent Plan, our AI Maturity Index leaders offer replicable blueprints for accelerating AI integration.”

Yet Baker Stein warns that in this environment, HR leaders must prioritize agility and comprehensiveness in their skilling strategies. 

She concludes: “While Gen AI skills are top of mind for learners and employees alike, it is also important to avoid losing sight of human skills development: our report observes that Gen AI course enrollments (up 195% globally year-on-year) have significantly outpaced increases in enrollments in courses that train essential companion soft skills like critical thinking (up 28% globally year-on-year). 

The Global Skills Report 2025 offers a timely reminder that HR leaders wishing to prepare their employees for a more complex, AI-driven world must ensure that their talent development programs offer a holistic blend of essential technical and human skills.”