Nine in 10 organisations now require certified skills, yet only 27% of students are actively pursuing professional credentials
The gap between what employers need and what young workers hold is widening, and the data is unambiguous.
Ninety-two per cent of organisations require or strongly prioritise professional certification as part of their workforce strategy, according to a global survey of 505 IT and human resources leaders conducted by Pearson across the US, UK, China, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and India, published in April 2025.
Yet a separate survey of more than 1,000 US students found only 27% are actively pursuing those credentials – a disconnect that researchers and industry leaders say is placing significant pressure on hiring pipelines across design, engineering, construction, manufacturing and the skilled trades.
The Pearson report found 78% of employers identified professional certification as their leading upskilling investment, and 93% reported a positive return on investment from certified employees, tied directly to performance and retention outcomes.
Certification gap sharpest in AI and emerging tech
The largest skills shortfalls are concentrated in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity and cloud computing, according to Pearson. Art Valentine, president of Pearson Assessment and Qualification, said employers overwhelmingly view certification as the most reliable way to build and validate the skills their teams need, and expect those credentials to carry even greater weight as AI continues to reshape roles across industries.
AI-related job listings across architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing and design grew nearly two and a half times over two years, according to analysis of more than four million global job postings conducted by research firm GlobalData for Autodesk's second annual AI Jobs Report, released in 2025. Design has become the most in-demand skill in AI hiring, while human skills such as communication and leadership now rank ahead of coding in employer requirements.
Young workers are largely self-taught and it shows
The research also points to a structural problem in how young people are acquiring skills. Eighty per cent of students said they are teaching themselves job-related skills online, while fewer than one in five gained those skills through internships or workplace experience. That self-directed learning is not translating into the formal credentials employers are prioritising.
The trades face a parallel challenge. Demand for credentialled workers in plumbing, pipefitting, HVACR and welding is rising alongside design and engineering roles, yet apprenticeship and formal training pathways remain underutilised by young workers entering those fields.
Industry moves to close the divide
Responses to the gap are emerging at scale. Autodesk announced a $350 million commitment over three years to expand technology access, training and certifications for workers in architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing and design – citing its AI Jobs Report findings as the driving rationale.
By the end of 2028, the company plans to extend free software access to 60 million additional students and educators, train nearly one million people in AI-powered workflows, and support more than 200,000 people in earning industry-recognised certifications.
A certification pathway developed with Pearson and Certiport will span entry-level credentials through to professional qualifications, including Autodesk Certified Professional designations.
Dara Treseder, Autodesk's chief marketing officer, said the next generation has the curiosity and ambition to solve real problems, but too many young people still lack the professional tools, training and experiences needed to turn that potential into a career.
The Pearson data reinforces that employer expectations are not softening. For HR leaders, the findings present a clear directive: organisations that wait for the talent market to self-correct risk falling further behind in a hiring environment where certified skills are rapidly becoming the baseline – not the differentiator.
