Photo by Myriam Jessier

 

In 2024, we conducted the first official survey of OneRange users. We wanted to know how and why they were using the platform, and what we could learn about the evolution of upskilling. By pairing users’ open-ended responses with statistics on resource usage and budget utilization, we uncovered valuable insights that will enable us to continually evolve the platform – and our own perspectives on upskilling.

Executive Summary (TLDR)

The most dramatic finding was the incredible growth in AI skills and competencies. In the tools category on OneRange, ChatGPT led the pack by a wide margin, and was joined by top contenders Claude and GitHub. AI also factored very prominently into the most requested courses, making it clear that OneRange users are stepping up to level up their AI knowledge in a big way.

Many of the other findings validated our core beliefs and founding principles about upskilling:

  • Companies can boost participation in upskilling activities by simplifying and centralizing the process through a robust platform (71% OneRange platform participation vs. an industry baseline of 10-55% upskilling participation; average of 4 resource requests per-user per-year – that’s 1 per quarter!)
  • Users want a variety of upskilling resources (no one upskilling resource type surpassed 50% of total utilization)
  • Users are good stewards of company funds and do not spend recklessly or take advantage of upskilling budgets (total average spend per user was $275.14, and less than 8% was spent on activities unrelated to professional development)
  • Upskilling accelerates job performance by enabling employees to improve upon their weaknesses and further develop their strengths (74% use OneRange to improve weaknesses; 18% to build upon strengths).

In the narrative below, we explore the findings in greater detail and provide an analysis of the results. We hope you find it interesting and discover at least a few good nuggets you can use to improve your own upskilling program. Read on! We welcome all feedback at [email protected].

Upskilling Engagement

Overview

In 2024, we were pleased to see that more than two-thirds of employees (71%) with OneRange accounts requested at least 1 resource, meaning that they were actively engaged in individualized learning on the platform, rather than choosing not to learn at all, or being compelled to complete a one-size-fits-all required training.
 
On average, OneRanger users requested 4 resources (3.99)  in 2024, suggesting that they were participating in about 1 upskilling activity per quarter, which we think is a terrific result.
 

Analysis

We started OneRange largely because we identified a huge gap in the demand for quality upskilling versus the reality of low upskilling participation rates. By our own estimates and those from other reputable sources like DeVry University, average participation in upskilling activities typically ranges from 10% to 55%, depending on program quality. Therefore, the fact that we’ve achieved more than 70% participation on the OneRange platform is notable, and suggests that by working with OneRange, companies can significantly boost upskilling engagement over standard baselines.
 
The result that users averaged 4 resources per person is also extremely encouraging. Not only are users finding plenty of activities on the platform that appeal to them, but once they get going and request the first resource, they are much more likely to continue the learning cycle and request additional resources. Many of our users are going above and beyond to request well more than 4 resources a year! In a world of limited time and competing priorities, that’s a seriously impressive amount of upskilling.
 
 

Resource use by type

Overview

People prefer to learn in different ways, and so OneRange offers upskilling in a variety of formats, including courses, books, tools, conferences, and publications. In 2024, courses continued to dominate, comprising nearly half (47%) of all resource requests on the platform. 
 
Coming in second were books, making up 21% of resource requests – from how-to guides to first person narratives, in digital and physical formats. Perhaps the biggest, most surprising development in 2024 was the growth in requests for tools. It has quickly become a favorite among OneRange users, totaling 18% of resource use. Our audience purchased subscriptions to classics like Zapier, Quizlet, Grammarly, DuoLingo, and Canva, as well as the latest AI tools like Otter.ai, ChatGPT, Claude, and Symless.
 

Analysis

As we dive in more deeply to look at the most requested items in our top 3 categories,  interesting trends emerge. In the courses category, some old standbys led the way: Microsoft Excel and Public Speaking were the two most popular courses. This makes sense, as these are two skills that elicit fear in many, and that require mastery to be successful in most technology professions. However, the real surprise was that the 3rd to 5th most popular courses all related to AI, from developing basic knowledge (GenAI for Everyone) to honing advanced skills as an AI practitioner.
 
A similar pattern occurred in the tools category, where 3 of the top 5 five tools also involved AI (ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, and GitHub Copilot). ChatGPT was number one by a wide margin. Coming in at number 2 and 3 were subscriptions for Grammarly and DuoLingo Super, suggesting that grammar is not dead (as some would like to suggest with the growth of digital slang and GenAI), and that language learning has grown in popularity as tailwinds from globalization, gamification, and freemium app models have made it increasingly appealing and accessible to wide audiences.
 
Finally, in the books category, titles around mental health, well-being, and good living topped the charts. This continues upon the pandemic-era increase in focus around work-life balance, self-care, and self-improvement. Creativity was also popular, which made us wonder whether people are feeling more pressure to develop creative skills in a world of increasing AI automation. Or perhaps they just need a creative outlet in a stressful world – crochet, anyone?! 
 
Overall, we are thrilled to see our audience building their AI knowledge and skills to automate key processes and boost productivity for themselves and their companies. We expect to see the use of all tools – and especially AI tools – continue to increase on the platform in future years. At the same time, we’re gratified that OneRange users are also taking time to invest in their own happiness and mental health, while building personally fulfilling and enriching skills such as language mastery.
 
Resource Use by Type pie chart

Top 5 OneRange Courses

1

Microsoft Excel for Professionals (Zero to Advanced Course)

2

Complete Public Speaking & Communication Skills Master Class

3

Generative AI for Everyone

4

Ultimate AWS Certified AI Practitioner AIF-CO1

5

Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Q & AWS Generative AI (Hands-on)

 

Top 5 OneRange Books

1

Stop Overthinking: 23 Techniques to Relieve Stress, Stop Negative Spirals, Declutter Your Mind, and Focus on the Present 

2

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

3

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

4

The Creative Act: A Way of Being

5

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Top 5 OneRange Tools

1

ChatGPT Plus

2

Grammarly annual subscription

3

DuoLingo Super annual subscription

4

GitHub Copilot – Your AI Pair Programmer

5

Claude Pro annual subscription

Resource use by category

Overview

Personal development was the most popular category among OneRange users in 2024 at 22% of resource requests, followed by business (18%), software development (16%), and office productivity (10%). 

Analysis

According to Precedence Research, the personal development trend continues to grow, fueled by the increase in social media influencers, an emphasis on acquiring new skills, the growth in disposable income, and a greater desire for work-life balance and physical health spurred by the pandemic. These trends were all clearly reflected by our audience’s preference for personal development content.

We also know our audience skews heavily toward the technology sector, so it’s not surprising that software development was a very popular topic. More notable than any one subject, however, was the diversity of categories and interests. OneRange users engaged in upskilling across a wide variety of domains, from IT to Design, and from Sales and Marketing to Data Science, with no one subject dominating the field.

 
Pie Chart: Resource use by category

Upskilling spend

Overview

On average, individuals using the OneRange platform spent $68.99 per resource in 2024, and $275.14 total on upskilling.

Analysis

We know that courses are the most popular resource type on OneRange, and tools are growing in popularity on the platform. Therefore, it makes sense that we would see an average cost per resource that reflects the higher prices of courses and annual subscriptions for tools, versus the lower costs of books. We also believe the spend of $68.99 suggests that users are choosing high-quality resources on the platform. With the proliferation of free and very cheap course content on the internet, we have seen companies and employees sometimes make the mistake of prioritizing extreme cost savings over quality and impact. OneRange users are regularly choosing premium content that research shows they are more likely to complete and get real value out of, which we love to see!

The total per person spend of $275.14 on upskilling is also an interesting finding. Paired with the fact that users requested 4 resources on average, it demonstrates to us the high ROI of making investments in learning and professional development. For very little relative spend, companies can make a serious investment in the continuous learning of their employees. It also suggests that users are not simply rushing to spend their entire upskilling budget without regard to whether they can actually complete the activities, but are making careful and measured choices about content they can realistically complete.

Upskilling Purpose

In this last section of the report, we dive into more qualitative data about the reasons users cite for using OneRange.

Overview

When we asked OneRange users “What is your primary purpose of finding resources on OneRange?”, nearly three-quarters (74%) said “learning to improve a skill you feel is a weakness.” Another 18% cited wanting to lean into a strength, and just 7% said to learn something that is not directly related to their professional development.

Analysis

Focusing on weaknesses is a worthy goal. It shows that employees are listening to managers and taking initiative to put constructive feedback into action to improve. It benefits businesses, which may experience fewer errors and greater output from employees who seek to improve upon their weaknesses. 

Additionally, a growing body of research suggests that there is at least equally as much to be gained by leaning into our innate strengths and developing them even further to become “superpowers,” or differentiators that make us uniquely valuable in the workplace. The finding that a sizable number (18%) of OneRange users are choosing to lean into their strengths shows that our audience recognizes the importance of this area. 

Finally, the fact that well less than 10% of users said they use OneRange to learn skills not directly related to professional development should assuage the concerns of any  HR leaders who worry that employees will take advantage of upskilling funds. We also believe there is inherent value in investing in workers’ interests outside of work, which can make them happier, healthier, more well-rounded, and ultimately more productive. Plus, you never know how a seemingly unrelated skill or interest might unlock a current or future career opportunity!

Conclusion

In this first annual report, we learned a great deal about the upskilling habits of our audience and their use of the OneRange platform. These insights are useful for us, and also beneficial for the broader community of people leaders and upskilling experts.

Based on this report, we believe that the state of upskilling among the OneRange audience is strong. In the years to come, we plan to repeat this survey to see how trends evolve over time and as our audience grows. We will add measures to gain additional insights, and we hope to engage in more meaningful conversations with upskilling experts about the results.

What stood out to you from the report? What additional data would you like to see us analyze? Drop us a note on LinkedIn or at [email protected].