Udemy report reveals surging demand for AI skills in workplace

SAN FRANCISCO - Learning platform Udemy (NASDAQ:UDMY) released its 2026 Global Learning & Skills Trends Report on Thursday, highlighting the growing importance of AI fluency and adaptive skills in the workplace.

The report, based on data from over 17,000 Udemy enterprise customers, shows significant growth in AI-related learning, with 11 million generative AI course enrollments to date. Microsoft Copilot content consumption surged 3,400% year-over-year, while GitHub CoPilot content consumption increased by 13,534%. This growth complements Udemy’s own business expansion, with revenue reaching $795.54 million and showing a 3.93% year-over-year increase.

According to the findings, companies are increasingly investing in both technical AI capabilities and human skills like critical thinking, communication, and leadership to navigate workplace transformation. Consumption of adaptive skills learning grew 25% year-over-year on Udemy Business, with critical thinking up 37% and decision-making skills increasing 38%.

"AI can automate tasks once considered impossible with traditional workflows," said Hugo Sarrazin, president and CEO of Udemy, according to the press release. "The organizations winning today are those treating AI adoption as both a technical and a human transformation."

The report identifies four key opportunity areas for companies: making AI fluency a fundamental requirement, developing adaptive skills for successful transformation, embedding learning into daily workflows, and scaling leadership and ethics to guide AI adoption.

Udemy’s AI Role Play feature, which offers context-specific scenarios with AI-powered feedback, has seen rapid adoption with 3,300+ role plays published within three months of launch and 38+ new role plays created daily.

The report also noted that leadership ranks as the sixth most consumed business skill on Udemy Business, while AI ethics and governance course consumption has increased 98% year-over-year.

McKinsey research cited in the press release indicates only 1% of employers feel ready for the effects of AI adoption, underscoring the urgency for companies to address skills gaps as they pursue operational efficiency and competitive advantages. For investors interested in deeper insights into Udemy’s financial health and growth prospects, InvestingPro offers comprehensive analysis, including 8 additional ProTips and a detailed Pro Research Report, part of its coverage of over 1,400 US stocks.

In other recent news, Udemy Inc. reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, with earnings per share reaching $0.16, surpassing analyst forecasts of $0.12. The company’s revenue also exceeded expectations, totaling $200 million against a projected $196.79 million. These results come amid Udemy’s strategic transformation into an AI-enabled reskilling platform, as discussed by CEO Hugo Sarrazin at the 45th Annual CG Growth Conference. Canaccord Genuity has reiterated its Buy rating for Udemy, maintaining a price target of $12.00, citing the ongoing strategic shift. Meanwhile, Cantor Fitzgerald raised its price target for Udemy to $10.00 from $9.00, noting early success signs of the "Udemy 2.0" turnaround plan. Both investment firms express confidence in the company’s direction under new leadership. These developments highlight the dynamic changes occurring within Udemy as it continues its strategic initiatives.

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