LinkedIn and Adobe have launched a new remote training program, "AI Essentials for Marketers," to address a striking imbalance: the share of marketing roles demanding AI literacy has jumped 113% year over year, but just 4% of marketers have added AI skills to their LinkedIn profiles. The suite of on-demand courses is built for professionals who need practical knowledge of AI-powered ad systems and automated marketing tools.
What the courses cover
The program includes four role-based courses, available in 47 languages, that correspond to the most in-demand marketing functions LinkedIn identified from its platform data. Course titles target Content & Creative Marketers, Digital Marketers, Data & Analytics Marketers, Communication & Social Media Marketers, and Event & Field Marketers. The material is delivered in short-form, social-first formats that fit into a working professional's schedule, according to the joint announcement.
LinkedIn created the courses through its newly formed BrandWorks team, a group of in-house experts across brand, creative, content, and events whose mandate is to provide hands-on strategy and campaign support. That team designed the curriculum to be relevant for marketers at any career stage, not just beginners.
The skills gap behind the push
LinkedIn's Economic Graph data reveals a tight market for AI-fluent marketers. Roles that require AI skills have more than doubled in the last year, yet the small fraction of marketers who currently signal those skills on their profiles suggests a significant readiness gap. As social platforms invest heavily in automated ad features, marketers who can navigate AI-driven tools stand to gain an edge in hiring and campaign performance.
For those looking to build that expertise systematically, the AI Learning Path for Marketing Managers offers a deeper, role-specific sequence of instruction that parallels the kind of upskilling these new LinkedIn courses encourage. Similarly, the broader AI for Marketing Courses listing collects options that cover the same tools and approaches now gaining traction across the industry.
How to earn a certificate
Marketers who finish the "AI Essentials for Marketers" courses receive a LinkedIn Learning certificate they can display on their profiles. LinkedIn and Adobe said they plan to add new learning content regularly, keeping the material aligned with the latest AI tools and advertising platforms.
Why this matters for marketers
The gap between demand for AI skills and the number of marketers who have them is widening, not shrinking. Completing credential-backed training like the LinkedIn-Adobe program - and making that credential visible - signals to employers and clients that you can work with the automated systems that now define paid media, content targeting, and campaign analytics. That's not a future consideration; it's what recruitment data already reflects.
Your membership also unlocks:
