AI Education Market Set for Explosive Growth as Demand and Enrollment Surge

AI Education Market Set for Dramatic Growth

A new report from Validated Insights reveals that the market for education and training in artificial intelligence (AI) was valued at $16.2 billion in 2024. This market is expected to grow at an annual rate exceeding 22%, signaling strong demand for AI skills across industries.

Analyzing enrollment trends, student interest, and labor market data, the report highlights a surge in AI-related education. From Fall 2018 to Fall 2023, enrollment in AI programs at colleges and universities increased by 45% annually. Despite this growth, there was a shortage of 341,000 AI and machine learning professionals in 2023, with projections estimating that gap will nearly double to 700,000 by 2027.

Strong Demand Drives Enrollment and Skill Development

Interest in AI training is not confined to traditional degree programs. Since the launch of ChatGPT, enrollment in Generative AI courses on platforms like Coursera and Udemy has reached 3.5 million students within just 14 months. Additionally, completions of graduate certificates in AI from colleges and universities grew 245% annually between 2019 and 2023.

The report points out that only 0.2% of AI learners are currently engaged in credit-bearing programs, which presents a significant opportunity for higher education institutions to expand their offerings and capture this growing market.

Workforce Upskilling and Hiring Trends

About 4% of the white-collar workforce is actively pursuing AI upskilling, while 80% express interest in acquiring these skills. This translates to nearly 47 million workers planning to upskill in AI within the next six months.

The demand for AI talent is concentrated geographically, with nearly half of AI-related job postings located in California, New York, Texas, and Washington. Employment for AI and machine learning engineers is expected to nearly triple by 2027, emphasizing the urgent need for skilled professionals.

Growth Compared to Other Career Education Markets

For perspective, leadership training—a well-established and fast-growing sector—is projected to grow at about 10.2% annually. AI education programs are expected to grow more than twice as fast, at 22.7% per year.

This rapid expansion is driven not only by current professionals upgrading their skills but also by employers increasingly prioritizing AI capabilities in hiring decisions. The shortage of qualified AI workers is already impacting recruitment and will likely persist for years.

What This Means for Higher Education Marketers

The low participation rate in credit-bearing AI programs suggests a gap between learner demand and traditional academic offerings. Institutions that can develop and market relevant AI programs may tap into a significant pool of motivated students.

For marketers in higher education, this represents a chance to craft targeted campaigns that highlight the career benefits of AI education and reach audiences eager to upskill. Highlighting flexible learning options, certificates, and partnerships with industry could help attract these learners.

To explore current AI courses and certification options, consider resources like Complete AI Training’s latest AI courses.

Additional Insights Covered in the Report

• Degree competition trends in AI fields
• States with highest and lowest interest in AI training
• Venture capital funding patterns for AI companies
• Current business adoption of AI technologies

This is Validated Insights’ first focused report on AI education and training, with plans for regular updates to help higher education institutions keep pace with evolving market needs.

About Validated Insights

Validated Insights is a marketing agency specializing in higher education. They provide digital marketing, paid search, paid social, and web strategy services. Their agile testing approach focuses on continuous growth and measurable results. Validated Insights stands out by offering a performance guarantee on key performance indicators within the first 60 days of engagement.

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