GALWAY, IRELAND - 2026-01-12
Alison has opened 2026 with a standout milestone: more than one million people enrolled on the platform in January 2026 alone. The figure highlights the growing importance professionals place on skills development, particularly at the start of the year, when many reassess career goals and direction.
The surge suggests that learning is increasingly viewed not as an optional activity, but as a practical priority that supports career progression, potential role changes, and long-term employability.
January Enrolment Surge Highlights Proactive Workforce Upskilling
January is widely associated with goal-setting and new beginnings, often described in behavioural research as the “fresh start effect,” where people are more likely to commit to meaningful change at the start of a new year. Alison’s January enrolment figures reflect this mindset, with Learners choosing to invest time in building skills that support their current roles and longer-term career plans.
This behaviour also points to a broader workforce shift. As job roles continue to evolve, workers are increasingly preparing for promotions, career moves, or transitions into new fields. Research from McKinsey & Company suggests that around half of the global workforce will require reskilling by 2030, reinforcing why skills development is becoming a priority rather than an afterthought.
Exceeding one million enrolments in a single month highlights sustained engagement with skills-based learning across a wide range of backgrounds and regions. Learners are opting for education that fits around work and personal commitments, allows them to start immediately, and supports continuous development rather than one-time qualification.
For Learners, this means practical access to learning that supports real career goals, from strengthening core skills to preparing for advancement or change. For employers and communities, it reflects a growing pool of individuals proactively investing in their capabilities, supporting adaptability and participation in a changing labour market.
Alison’s Next Steps in Strengthening Its Empowerment Ecosystem
Building on this milestone, Alison is expanding how Learners translate skills into real employment opportunities. A new Recruitment tool will enable Learners to discover relevant job openings directly on the Alison platform, creating a clearer and more seamless pathway from learning to work.
Alison will also continue advancing its psychometric assessments, expanding gamified learning experiences, and strengthening collaboration with subject-matter experts and industry partners. Together, these initiatives reinforce Alison’s commitment to offering a holistic career empowerment ecosystem that helps Learners build confidence, demonstrate capability, and progress in a skills-first labour market.
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Resources
Alison provides a range of online learning and career development tools focused on developing skills and improving employability. These include a catalogue of 6,000+ free, fully online Certificate and Diploma courses covering workplace and professional skills.
Additional resources include Aptitude Tests, which help Learners assess core abilities, and a Resumé Builder designed to support CV creation and job applications. Learner stories and testimonials are also available, offering insight into how individuals use online learning to advance their careers.
Media Contact
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About Alison
Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered Learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.
The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.
For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited Learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numeracy, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.
To further support career development, Learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App.
In 2026, Alison will launch a Global Recruitment Service to directly connect skilled, motivated Learners with hiring employers. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings — reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
