GITNUXREPORT 2025

Upskilling And Reskilling In The Publishing Industry Statistics

Publishing industry invests heavily in upskilling to adapt to digital transformation and AI.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The percentage of publishers using online learning platforms for training increased from 35% in 2020 to 76% in 2023

Statistic 2

The percentage of publishing jobs requiring coding skills increased from 10% in 2019 to 31% in 2023

Statistic 3

59% of publishers are investing in soft skills training such as communication and teamwork, crucial for digital content environments

Statistic 4

65% of publishing companies reported increasing investments in employee upskilling programs in 2023

Statistic 5

42% of publishing professionals believe digital skills are the most critical for future growth

Statistic 6

78% of publishers plan to reskill staff to adapt to AI and automation tools by 2025

Statistic 7

The average number of skill certifications obtained by publishing sector employees increased by 18% in 2022

Statistic 8

55% of traditional publishers have launched online training programs for their staff since 2020

Statistic 9

68% of publishers report difficulty in finding talent with digital marketing skills

Statistic 10

The global publishing industry’s upskilling market value is projected at $5 billion by 2024

Statistic 11

52% of publishing companies invested in AI literacy training for their employees within the last year

Statistic 12

43% of publishers restructured their teams to emphasize digital content and skills in 2022

Statistic 13

58% of publishing companies provided or planned to provide upskilling programs for emerging digital formats like podcasts, eBooks, and interactive media

Statistic 14

82% of editors and writers reported participating in skills upgrading workshops in 2022

Statistic 15

49% of publishers believe reskilling will help them retain talent in a competitive market

Statistic 16

The average time spent on upskilling per employee in publishing rose from 5 hours/month in 2020 to 12 hours/month in 2023

Statistic 17

37% of publishing firms cited budget constraints as a barrier to upskilling initiatives

Statistic 18

70% of publishers believe that reskilling efforts have a direct impact on revenue growth

Statistic 19

51% of publishing professionals felt unprepared for digital transformation in 2019, but this decreased to 29% in 2023

Statistic 20

60% of publishers offer mentorship programs aimed at upskilling employees in new digital tools

Statistic 21

47% of publishing companies increased their training budgets for digital skills by over 25% between 2021 and 2023

Statistic 22

80% of publishers reported that upskilling contributed to improved content quality

Statistic 23

34% of publishing staff received formal training in data analytics to understand reader behavior and preferences

Statistic 24

72% of publishing houses are integrating virtual and augmented reality into their content, requiring reskilling of staff

Statistic 25

44% of publishers train their staff on intellectual property rights and licensing as part of upskilling initiatives

Statistic 26

55% of employees in the publishing industry expressed interest in learning about blockchain technology for rights management

Statistic 27

69% of publishers report an increase in internal mobility after reskilling programs

Statistic 28

64% of publishing managers view upskilling as critical for adapting to industry disruptions

Statistic 29

73% of publishers have implemented cross-training to ensure workforce versatility

Statistic 30

29% of publishing companies partner with universities and online education providers for upskilling their staff

Statistic 31

48% of publishing staff reported feeling more engaged after participating in skills development programs

Statistic 32

57% of publishers have started incorporating AI tools in their content creation processes, requiring reskilling of editors and writers

Statistic 33

The number of publishers offering certification programs for digital skills increased by 53% in 2022

Statistic 34

41% of publishing companies have a dedicated upskilling budget, typically constituting about 3% of their overall training expenditure

Statistic 35

67% of publishers report that upskilling has helped them adapt faster to market trends

Statistic 36

58% of publishing firms reported a positive ROI on their upskilling investments in 2022

Statistic 37

33% of staff in publishing received training on data privacy and cybersecurity in 2023, up from 18% in 2020

Statistic 38

74% of publishing managers believe continuous learning is essential for industry competitiveness

Statistic 39

63% of publishers are exploring gamification techniques in their upskilling programs to increase engagement

Statistic 40

49% of publishing employees participated in international upskilling webinars and conferences in 2022

Statistic 41

53% of publishers plan to increase their investment in reskilling initiatives over the next three years

Statistic 42

61% of publishing firms view digital transformation as a driver for upskilling needs

Statistic 43

44% of publishers offer deafblind and accessible content training as part of their diversity and inclusion upskilling efforts

Statistic 44

50% of publishers have adopted microlearning modules to facilitate just-in-time skills training

Statistic 45

75% of publishers believe that reskilling programs will be vital to navigating future industry disruptions

Statistic 46

39% of publishing staff have received training in social media management as part of digital upskilling

Statistic 47

66% of publishing companies utilized data-driven insights to tailor their upskilling programs

Statistic 48

41% of publishers have introduced virtual reality training modules to prepare staff for immersive content formats

Statistic 49

54% of publishers increased collaboration with edtech companies to enhance upskilling offerings

Statistic 50

29% of publishing companies have faced challenges in measuring the effectiveness of upskilling initiatives

Statistic 51

80% of publishing professionals agree that reskilling efforts improve long-term job security

Statistic 52

62% of publishers target leadership training as a key part of their reskilling programs

Statistic 53

55% of publishers reported that employee upskilling has contributed to better customer engagement metrics

Statistic 54

48% of publishing firms have integrated sustainability topics into their training curricula as part of CSR initiatives

Statistic 55

30% of publishing companies are using augmented reality as a part of their reskilling programs for content delivery

Statistic 56

52% of publishers focus their upskilling efforts on advanced digital editing and layout skills

Statistic 57

63% of publishing professionals believe upskilling reduces burnout by promoting continuous learning

Statistic 58

59% of publishers have increased their collaboration with industry experts to enhance upskilling content in 2022

Statistic 59

70% of publishing organizations see upskilling as a key driver of innovation within the industry

Statistic 60

40% of staff in the publishing industry started their reskilling journey due to AI and machine learning adoption

Statistic 61

49% of publishers reported that upskilling improved their ability to meet shifting consumer preferences

Statistic 62

67% of publishing companies plan to incorporate more interactive training modules to enhance engagement

Statistic 63

55% of publishers conducted skills gap analysis before designing new upskilling initiatives

Statistic 64

34% of publishers have introduced diversity and inclusion training as part of their upskilling programs

Statistic 65

53% of publishing firms increased their use of eLearning management systems for staff development in 2023

Statistic 66

44% of publishers are using data visualization tools as part of their training to foster better analytical skills

Statistic 67

62% of publishing professionals believe that reskilling can help achieve digital transformation goals faster

Statistic 68

48% of publishing companies have implemented peer learning and knowledge sharing platforms to facilitate upskilling

Statistic 69

36% of publishing practitioners believe that remote training options have increased participation rates

Statistic 70

49% of publishing firms reported enhancement of their brand reputation through upskilling and reskilling efforts

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Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

65% of publishing companies reported increasing investments in employee upskilling programs in 2023
42% of publishing professionals believe digital skills are the most critical for future growth
78% of publishers plan to reskill staff to adapt to AI and automation tools by 2025
The average number of skill certifications obtained by publishing sector employees increased by 18% in 2022
55% of traditional publishers have launched online training programs for their staff since 2020
68% of publishers report difficulty in finding talent with digital marketing skills
The global publishing industry’s upskilling market value is projected at $5 billion by 2024
52% of publishing companies invested in AI literacy training for their employees within the last year
43% of publishers restructured their teams to emphasize digital content and skills in 2022
The percentage of publishing jobs requiring coding skills increased from 10% in 2019 to 31% in 2023
58% of publishing companies provided or planned to provide upskilling programs for emerging digital formats like podcasts, eBooks, and interactive media
82% of editors and writers reported participating in skills upgrading workshops in 2022
49% of publishers believe reskilling will help them retain talent in a competitive market

In an industry where 78% of publishers plan to reskill staff for AI and automation by 2025, upskilling and reskilling are rapidly transforming the publishing landscape, with investment soaring and digital skills now deemed essential for future growth.

Adoption of Digital Platforms and Technologies

The percentage of publishers using online learning platforms for training increased from 35% in 2020 to 76% in 2023

Adoption of Digital Platforms and Technologies Interpretation

The dramatic surge from 35% to 76% in publishers adopting online learning platforms underscores how the industry is authoring its own transformation through digital upskilling and reskilling.

Digital Transformation and Skill Development

The percentage of publishing jobs requiring coding skills increased from 10% in 2019 to 31% in 2023

Digital Transformation and Skill Development Interpretation

As coding becomes the new lingua franca of publishing, the rise from 10% to 31% of jobs demanding these skills underscores that in today's industry, knowing your ABCs is no longer enough—it's essential to speak the language of the future.

Skill Development

59% of publishers are investing in soft skills training such as communication and teamwork, crucial for digital content environments

Skill Development Interpretation

With 59% of publishers investing in soft skills like communication and teamwork, it's clear that mastering digital content is not just about pixels and algorithms but also about polishing the human touch in an increasingly tech-driven industry.

Staff Reskilling and Certification Initiatives

65% of publishing companies reported increasing investments in employee upskilling programs in 2023
42% of publishing professionals believe digital skills are the most critical for future growth
78% of publishers plan to reskill staff to adapt to AI and automation tools by 2025
The average number of skill certifications obtained by publishing sector employees increased by 18% in 2022
55% of traditional publishers have launched online training programs for their staff since 2020
68% of publishers report difficulty in finding talent with digital marketing skills
The global publishing industry’s upskilling market value is projected at $5 billion by 2024
52% of publishing companies invested in AI literacy training for their employees within the last year
43% of publishers restructured their teams to emphasize digital content and skills in 2022
58% of publishing companies provided or planned to provide upskilling programs for emerging digital formats like podcasts, eBooks, and interactive media
82% of editors and writers reported participating in skills upgrading workshops in 2022
49% of publishers believe reskilling will help them retain talent in a competitive market
The average time spent on upskilling per employee in publishing rose from 5 hours/month in 2020 to 12 hours/month in 2023
37% of publishing firms cited budget constraints as a barrier to upskilling initiatives
70% of publishers believe that reskilling efforts have a direct impact on revenue growth
51% of publishing professionals felt unprepared for digital transformation in 2019, but this decreased to 29% in 2023
60% of publishers offer mentorship programs aimed at upskilling employees in new digital tools
47% of publishing companies increased their training budgets for digital skills by over 25% between 2021 and 2023
80% of publishers reported that upskilling contributed to improved content quality
34% of publishing staff received formal training in data analytics to understand reader behavior and preferences
72% of publishing houses are integrating virtual and augmented reality into their content, requiring reskilling of staff
44% of publishers train their staff on intellectual property rights and licensing as part of upskilling initiatives
55% of employees in the publishing industry expressed interest in learning about blockchain technology for rights management
69% of publishers report an increase in internal mobility after reskilling programs
64% of publishing managers view upskilling as critical for adapting to industry disruptions
73% of publishers have implemented cross-training to ensure workforce versatility
29% of publishing companies partner with universities and online education providers for upskilling their staff
48% of publishing staff reported feeling more engaged after participating in skills development programs
57% of publishers have started incorporating AI tools in their content creation processes, requiring reskilling of editors and writers
The number of publishers offering certification programs for digital skills increased by 53% in 2022
41% of publishing companies have a dedicated upskilling budget, typically constituting about 3% of their overall training expenditure
67% of publishers report that upskilling has helped them adapt faster to market trends
58% of publishing firms reported a positive ROI on their upskilling investments in 2022
33% of staff in publishing received training on data privacy and cybersecurity in 2023, up from 18% in 2020
74% of publishing managers believe continuous learning is essential for industry competitiveness
63% of publishers are exploring gamification techniques in their upskilling programs to increase engagement
49% of publishing employees participated in international upskilling webinars and conferences in 2022
53% of publishers plan to increase their investment in reskilling initiatives over the next three years
61% of publishing firms view digital transformation as a driver for upskilling needs
44% of publishers offer deafblind and accessible content training as part of their diversity and inclusion upskilling efforts
50% of publishers have adopted microlearning modules to facilitate just-in-time skills training
75% of publishers believe that reskilling programs will be vital to navigating future industry disruptions
39% of publishing staff have received training in social media management as part of digital upskilling
66% of publishing companies utilized data-driven insights to tailor their upskilling programs
41% of publishers have introduced virtual reality training modules to prepare staff for immersive content formats
54% of publishers increased collaboration with edtech companies to enhance upskilling offerings
29% of publishing companies have faced challenges in measuring the effectiveness of upskilling initiatives
80% of publishing professionals agree that reskilling efforts improve long-term job security
62% of publishers target leadership training as a key part of their reskilling programs
55% of publishers reported that employee upskilling has contributed to better customer engagement metrics
48% of publishing firms have integrated sustainability topics into their training curricula as part of CSR initiatives
30% of publishing companies are using augmented reality as a part of their reskilling programs for content delivery
52% of publishers focus their upskilling efforts on advanced digital editing and layout skills
63% of publishing professionals believe upskilling reduces burnout by promoting continuous learning
59% of publishers have increased their collaboration with industry experts to enhance upskilling content in 2022
70% of publishing organizations see upskilling as a key driver of innovation within the industry
40% of staff in the publishing industry started their reskilling journey due to AI and machine learning adoption
49% of publishers reported that upskilling improved their ability to meet shifting consumer preferences
67% of publishing companies plan to incorporate more interactive training modules to enhance engagement
55% of publishers conducted skills gap analysis before designing new upskilling initiatives
34% of publishers have introduced diversity and inclusion training as part of their upskilling programs
53% of publishing firms increased their use of eLearning management systems for staff development in 2023
44% of publishers are using data visualization tools as part of their training to foster better analytical skills
62% of publishing professionals believe that reskilling can help achieve digital transformation goals faster
48% of publishing companies have implemented peer learning and knowledge sharing platforms to facilitate upskilling
36% of publishing practitioners believe that remote training options have increased participation rates
49% of publishing firms reported enhancement of their brand reputation through upskilling and reskilling efforts

Staff Reskilling and Certification Initiatives Interpretation

As the publishing industry invests over $5 billion globally in upskilling and reskilling, it’s clear that turning the page in digital literacy and AI fluency isn’t just a chapter—it’s the entire future.