Upskilling And Reskilling In The Define Industry Statistics 2026

Almost half of all workers will face significant skill disruption by 2027. This pressure, combined with widespread employer-reported shortages, is reshaping corporate training from a discretionary benefit into a strategic necessity.

Key Takeaways

In WEF Future of Jobs 2023, 23% of jobs are expected to be transformed by 2027 and 44% of workers’ skills are expected to be disrupted
In 2022, the World Economic Forum reported that 50% of employees will require reskilling by 2025 (headline figure as stated in WEF Future of Jobs 2020 and reiterated)
In the EU’s 2023 Digital Decade, 60% of adults should have at least basic digital skills by 2030 (policy target)
Workers in the U.S. averaged 17.7 hours of training per year in 2016, a midpoint estimate from OECD survey data cited by the OECD
In the World Bank’s 2020 dataset compilation, 75% of training programs reviewed had no evidence of employment earnings impact beyond short-term outcomes
In a 2018 meta-analysis, training programs increased employment outcomes by an average of 8.0 percentage points (absolute effect)
46% of employers in the EU reported skills shortages in at least one area related to current vacancies in 2023
62% of employers said they are planning to invest in training/reskilling in the next 12 months in a 2022 survey by Udemy Business
56% of organizations in LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report said they plan to increase investment in learning and development
$41.2 billion global learning management system (LMS) market size in 2024
$8.6 billion global digital training market size in 2023
$23.9 billion global AI in HR software market size in 2023
72% of adults in the EU reported participating in non-formal learning at some point in their lives in 2022 (Eurostat “adults learning”)
51% of companies in a 2023 survey said they use LMS platforms for employee training
63% of training leaders in 2024 said they use learning analytics to track progress and outcomes

Skills disruption is accelerating, and employers are investing heavily in training to keep workers employable.

01 · Category

Cost Analysis8 stats

$1.7 trillion value of time saved from productivity gains due to AI (global labor productivity estimate) and used in AI training/skills context (macro estimate)

In a 2022 report, the average cost per learner for online training was $25–$50 (reported range)

In a 2022 World Bank impact evaluation of job training programs, benefit-cost ratios ranged from 1.0 to 3.5 depending on program type and duration (reported range)

$1.4 billion in U.S. federal funding for workforce development and training programs under major initiatives was reported for FY2023 in USDOL/ETA releases (funding amount)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that the median annual wage for “Training and Development Specialists” was $65,470in 2023

The BLS reports that “Instructional Coordinators” had a median annual wage of $74,620in 2023 (relevant to designing and coordinating training programs)

The BLS reports that “Management Analysts” had a median annual wage of $95,290in 2023 (often involved in workforce strategy and training initiatives)

In a 2023 report by IBM on “Cost of a Data Breach,” the average cost of a data breach was $4.45 million (with associated need for workforce training in cybersecurity)

Interpretation

Cost Analysis Interpretation

For the Cost Analysis angle, the data suggests that while typical online reskilling can cost about $25 to $50 per learner and many job-training programs show benefit cost ratios from 1.0 to 3.5, AI-driven productivity gains are worth roughly $1.7 trillion globally in saved time that can be reinvested in building the skills needed to reduce overall training costs.

02 · Category

Industry Trends7 stats

In WEF Future of Jobs 2023, 23% of jobs are expected to be transformed by 2027 and 44% of workers’ skills are expected to be disrupted

In 2022, the World Economic Forum reported that 50% of employees will require reskilling by 2025 (headline figure as stated in WEF Future of Jobs 2020 and reiterated)

In the EU’s 2023 Digital Decade, 60% of adults should have at least basic digital skills by 2030 (policy target)

In OECD’s 2023 Skills Strategy brief, 68% of adults (age 25–64) report at least basic digital skills in OECD countries (reported aggregate)

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor reported over 560,000 apprenticeship registrations in FY2023 (apprenticeship registration count)

In 2023, 58% of learning and development leaders reported that their organizations are using AI or machine learning in learning programs (ATD 2023 survey)

The OECD’s Programme for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) shows that about 42% of adults in participating countries have at or below Level 2 proficiency in problem solving in technology-rich environments (2012)

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

Across industry trends, the pressure to keep talent current is accelerating fast, with the WEF projecting 44% of workers’ skills disrupted by 2027 and 23% of jobs transformed, while EU and OECD targets show digital capability is becoming a baseline expectation.

03 · Category

Market Size7 stats

$41.2 billion global learning management system (LMS) market size in 2024

$8.6 billion global digital training market size in 2023

$23.9 billion global AI in HR software market size in 2023

$6.8 billion global workforce management software market size in 2023

$5.2 billion global talent management software market size in 2022

$3.7 billion global language learning software market size in 2023 (enterprise and consumer)

$24.5 billion global cybersecurity training services market size in 2023

Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

The market size signals strong momentum for upskilling and reskilling, with combined learning and enabling tech such as a $41.2 billion global LMS market in 2024 and a $8.6 billion digital training market in 2023 showing growing investment across multiple software categories.

Upskilling And Reskilling In IndustryUpskilling And Reskilling In The Big Data Industry Statistics

04 · Category

Technology & Methods6 stats

72% of adults in the EU reported participating in non-formal learning at some point in their lives in 2022 (Eurostat “adults learning”)

51% of companies in a 2023 survey said they use LMS platforms for employee training

63% of training leaders in 2024 said they use learning analytics to track progress and outcomes

In a 2023 DoD-commissioned study, simulated training using virtual environments reduced training time by 40% versus conventional methods (time-to-proficiency)

In a 2019 peer-reviewed study, blended learning improved learning outcomes by an average effect size (Hedges’ g) of 0.47 compared with traditional instruction

In the 2022 OECD report, adults who use digital devices at work are 1.7 times more likely to participate in training (odds ratio reported)

Interpretation

Technology & Methods Interpretation

Technology and methods are clearly reshaping training, with 51% of companies using LMS platforms and 63% of training leaders relying on learning analytics, while digital tools are also linked to greater participation in training, since adults who use digital devices at work are 1.7 times more likely to take part.

05 · Category

Completion & Outcomes4 stats

Workers in the U.S. averaged 17.7 hours of training per year in 2016, a midpoint estimate from OECD survey data cited by the OECD

In the World Bank’s 2020 dataset compilation, 75% of training programs reviewed had no evidence of employment earnings impact beyond short-term outcomes

In a 2018 meta-analysis, training programs increased employment outcomes by an average of 8.0 percentage points (absolute effect)

In the 2022 European Commission study, participation in adult learning is associated with a +6.7 percentage-point higher probability of finding employment within 12 months (estimated effect)

Interpretation

Completion & Outcomes Interpretation

Across the Completion and Outcomes picture, the evidence is mixed but points to measurable value, with training linked to an average 8.0 percentage point employment improvement in a 2018 meta-analysis, yet the World Bank found 75% of reviewed programs showed no earnings impact beyond the short term.

06 · Category

Industry Overview6 stats

46% of employers in the EU reported skills shortages in at least one area related to current vacancies in 2023

62% of employers said they are planning to invest in training/reskilling in the next 12 months in a 2022 survey by Udemy Business

56% of organizations in LinkedIn’s 2023 Workplace Learning Report said they plan to increase investment in learning and development

Eurostat data show that the EU’s adult learning participation rate (last 4 weeks) was 11.4% in 2023

U.S. EPA’s Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) program requires certified renovators; the program reports over 500,000 renovators certified since inception (as of latest program update)

In the U.S. National Academies report on education and training, employers’ reported returns to training were highest when training was closely linked to job tasks and included coaching; the report cites wage gains in multiple studies averaging 5%–10%

Interpretation

Industry Overview Interpretation

In the Define industry, the push for upskilling and reskilling is clearly accelerating, with 46% of EU employers reporting skills shortages in 2023 and 62% planning training or reskilling investments in the next 12 months, even though only 11.4% of EU adults participated in learning over the last four weeks in 2023.

report visual · Breakdown

How much of work needs transforming—and what it implies for reskilling

Workforce disruption is projected alongside a large share of workers needing reskilling and organizations adopting AI in learning programs.

60%

In the EU’s 2023 Digital Decade, 60% of adults should have at least basic digital skills by 2030 (policy target)

40%

In a 2023 DoD-commissioned study, simulated training using virtual environments reduced training time by 40% versus conv

source-verifieddigital-strategy.ec.europa.eu · apps.dtic.mil2023

Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA

Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Upskilling And Reskilling In The Define Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-define-industry-statistics

MLA

Ryan Townsend. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Define Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-define-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Upskilling And Reskilling In The Define Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/upskilling-and-reskilling-in-the-define-industry-statistics.