Employers are investing in AI and seeking candidates with verifiable, job-ready expertise. Degrees remain essential, but certifications add trusted proof of specialized skills—helping graduates stand out in a competitive market.

The 2025 Value of IT Certification Candidate Report from Pearson shares global research on what’s driving this demand—and why it matters for higher education.

What the data tells us:

• 2x growth in people pursuing AI certification since 2022
• 69% of employers increasing AI investments

From nearly 24,000 professionals worldwide:

• AI is accelerating: AI and machine learning are now the second-largest certification specialty area.
• Certified skills drive results: 76% of certified professionals report a greater ability to innovate and improve work processes.
• Certification pays off: 30% of professionals who received raises after certification saw increases of more than 20%.

For colleges and universities, the takeaway is clear: pairing degrees with certifications helps close the gap between academic achievement and workforce readiness—boosting student outcomes and strengthening your institution’s value.

See the full report to explore these trends and discover how certifications complement the degrees you deliver.