Coursera: 97% of employers in India ready to pay more for candidates with micro-credentials: Coursera survey

Skills-based hiring in India is gaining rapid momentum, with micro-credentials emerging as a key driver of this shift, according to Coursera's Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025. Nearly all (97%) Indian employers say they are willing to offer higher starting salaries to candidates who hold micro-credentials, one of the highest figures worldwide. Meanwhile, 95% report that these credentials help reduce onboarding time and costs, and 98% of those who have already hired such candidates record savings of up to 20% in first-year training expenses. The report, based on surveys of over 2,000 employers and students globally conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, finds that 99% of Indian employers have adopted or are exploring skills-based hiring to address talent shortages. Generative AI (GenAI) credentials, in particular, are highly prized: 95% of employers say they are more likely to hire candidates with a GenAI micro-credential, and 9 in 10 believe these hires demonstrate stronger on-the-job performance and faster productivity gains. "With fast-changing roles and rising demands, Indian employers want graduates to be job-ready from day one. Micro-credentials have emerged as one of the most effective and trusted solutions - equipping students with practical skills and offering verifiable proof of their capabilities," said Prashasti Rastogi, director, Coursera for Campus and Government, India. GenAI skills in high demand 79% of employers would choose a less experienced candidate with a GenAI credential over a more experienced one without. 93% urge universities to equip graduates with GenAI skills for entry-level roles. 95% believe GenAI will provide a strategic advantage to their organisations. Micro-credentials strengthen hiring and training 98% say micro-credentials enhance a candidate's application. 93% agree that graduates with micro-credentials are job-ready. 97% are prepared to train their current workforce using micro-credentials. 93% prefer hiring candidates whose credentials are credit-bearing under India's National Credit Framework (NCrF). Student uptake and outcomes One in three Indian students has already earned a micro-credential. The likelihood of enrolling in a degree program jumps from 38% to 91% when micro-credentials are offered-and rises even higher if they are credit-bearing or teach GenAI skills. 86% of students believe micro-credentials will help them succeed on the job. These findings coincide with India's push under the National Education Policy to integrate skill-based learning into higher education. The NCrF allows students to earn academic credit for industry-aligned credentials, bridging the gap between classroom theory and workplace requirements. "As India aims to become the global hub for skilled talent, these insights highlight the urgency of integrating micro-credentials into higher education to equip students with the skills employers value most in the modern workplace," Rastogi added. Coursera's full Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025 captured perspectives from employers and learners across ten countries, including India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey. Skills-based hiring in India is gaining rapid momentum, with micro-credentials emerging as a key driver of this shift, according to Coursera's Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025. Nearly all (97%) Indian employers say they are willing to offer higher starting salaries to candidates who hold micro-credentials, one of the highest figures worldwide. Meanwhile, 95% report that these credentials help reduce onboarding time and costs, and 98% of those who have already hired such candidates record savings of up to 20% in first-year training expenses. The report, based on surveys of over 2,000 employers and students globally conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, finds that 99% of Indian employers have adopted or are exploring skills-based hiring to address talent shortages. Generative AI (GenAI) credentials, in particular, are highly prized: 95% of employers say they are more likely to hire candidates with a GenAI micro-credential, and 9 in 10 believe these hires demonstrate stronger on-the-job performance and faster productivity gains. "With fast-changing roles and rising demands, Indian employers want graduates to be job-ready from day one. Micro-credentials have emerged as one of the most effective and trusted solutions - equipping students with practical skills and offering verifiable proof of their capabilities," said Prashasti Rastogi, director, Coursera for Campus and Government, India. GenAI skills in high demand 79% of employers would choose a less experienced candidate with a GenAI credential over a more experienced one without. 93% urge universities to equip graduates with GenAI skills for entry-level roles. 95% believe GenAI will provide a strategic advantage to their organisations. 79% of employers would choose a less experienced candidate with a GenAI credential over a more experienced one without. 93% urge universities to equip graduates with GenAI skills for entry-level roles. 95% believe GenAI will provide a strategic advantage to their organisations. Micro-credentials strengthen hiring and training 98% say micro-credentials enhance a candidate's application. 93% agree that graduates with micro-credentials are job-ready. 97% are prepared to train their current workforce using micro-credentials. 93% prefer hiring candidates whose credentials are credit-bearing under India's National Credit Framework (NCrF). 98% say micro-credentials enhance a candidate's application. 93% agree that graduates with micro-credentials are job-ready. 97% are prepared to train their current workforce using micro-credentials. 93% prefer hiring candidates whose credentials are credit-bearing under India's National Credit Framework (NCrF). Student uptake and outcomes One in three Indian students has already earned a micro-credential. The likelihood of enrolling in a degree program jumps from 38% to 91% when micro-credentials are offered-and rises even higher if they are credit-bearing or teach GenAI skills. 86% of students believe micro-credentials will help them succeed on the job. One in three Indian students has already earned a micro-credential. The likelihood of enrolling in a degree program jumps from 38% to 91% when micro-credentials are offered-and rises even higher if they are credit-bearing or teach GenAI skills. 86% of students believe micro-credentials will help them succeed on the job. These findings coincide with India's push under the National Education Policy to integrate skill-based learning into higher education. The NCrF allows students to earn academic credit for industry-aligned credentials, bridging the gap between classroom theory and workplace requirements. "As India aims to become the global hub for skilled talent, these insights highlight the urgency of integrating micro-credentials into higher education to equip students with the skills employers value most in the modern workplace," Rastogi added. Coursera's full Micro-Credentials Impact Report 2025 captured perspectives from employers and learners across ten countries, including India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey.