- Professionals received a 65% average salary hike post-upskilling
- 87% of professionals prioritize upskilling for career growth over immediate salary hikes
Bengaluru 18 March 2025: Great Learning, a global leader in higher education and professional training, has released its Career Progression Report 2024-25, offering an in-depth analysis of the long-term impact of upskilling on career growth. The report draws insights from a comprehensive survey of randomly selected 1,000 alumni from Great Learning’s AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning programs, covering professionals at various career stages, from early-career to senior leaders. It highlights how continuous learning drives sustained career advancement, helping professionals achieve leadership roles, salary increases, and greater employability.
80% of professionals experience a positive career shift post-upskilling in AI/ML and Data Science programs
The report further reinforces the impact of upskilling on advancing the careers of professionals across levels, with 80% reporting positive career shifts, including promotions, salary increases, or successful career transitions over time, post-upskilling in high-value domains like AI/ML and Data Science. Looking at a shorter time frame of 2 years post-upskilling, 74% of professionals received a promotion or transitioned to new roles, among which 69% successfully moved into new roles either within their current organization or with a new employer, while 31% reported significant enhancements in their existing roles.
Leadership Roles Double Post-Upskilling
The transformative impact of upskilling is evident in the career trajectory of professionals, with 2 in 3 moving up the career ladder. Many professionals who began as individual contributors have successfully transitioned into leadership or team management positions post upskilling.
The study also revealed that post upskilling, the number of professionals in leadership roles doubled, and team management positions grew by 80%.This growth reflects how acquiring skills in Data Science, AI, and ML is enabling professionals to transition into managerial and strategic leadership roles, empowering them to navigate and lead teams effectively in a technology-driven dynamic environment.
Professionals see an Average 65% Salary Hike Post Upskilling
The report found that professionals in the early stages of their careers, typically with 0-3 years of experience, are experiencing remarkable growth with an average salary hike of 139%. For professionals in their mid-career stages, with 3-8 years of experience, the increase remains substantial at 93%. Similarly, for mid-to-senior professionals, with 8-12 years of experience, the average salary hike received is around 50%, and for senior professionals with over 12 years of experience, the average is 41%.
Professionals want to stay relevant/transition careers among tech disruption: key motivators to upskill
Career transition emerged as a key motivator, with 60% of professionals pursuing upskilling to either shift into new roles or remain relevant in their fields. Among these, 65% were early- to mid-career professionals, using upskilling as a strategic path to better career outcomes. 22% of professionals pursued upskilling driven by a personal interest in emerging domains such as Data Science and AI. Only 13% of professionals upskilled to enhance salary potential, indicating a larger shift towards learners prioritising securing roles in high-demand domains over the allure of short-term salary hikes. These insights indicate that professionals are increasingly prioritizing career security and long-term growth over immediate salary hikes.
Commenting on the report, Hari Krishnan Nair, Co-Founder of Great Learning, said, “Upskilling is a powerful tool for creating impactful career milestones and is no longer an alternative. It has enabled professionals to switch careers, get into managerial and leadership roles, and reap financial gains from their career growth. While short-term gains are important, the real benefit of upskilling compounds over time, turning professionals into experts and sought after industry leaders.
Learners who invested time and effort in upskilling in the last few years are the ones who will gain the most as hiring activity recovers. As businesses increasingly invest in AI across their businesses, professionals who upskill to drive this wave will be in high demand. The report’s findings are a testament to why professionals should take charge of their career growth and view upskilling not just as a choice but as a lifelong strategy for success.”
The study further reveals that investing in upskilling (particularly in high-growth domains like Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning) yields immediate practical benefits, with 72% of alumni actively applying their newly acquired skills in their current roles. Beyond technical capabilities, 82% of professionals reported increased confidence in navigating the evolving job market after completing their programs. As organizations prioritize digital transformation, professionals who upskilled two or three years ago are now reaping the benefits, positioning themselves as invaluable assets in a competitive job market.
