Purdue’s Professional Development Courses Help Professionals Succeed in Today’s Skills Economy 

In the view of economic experts, we live in a skills economy – meaning the modern job market values individual skills above other markers of success, including traditional credentials like academic degrees and even prior job experience. This is caused, in part, by a global skills shortage. According to the McKinsey Institute, 87% of companies worldwide report experiencing skill gaps in their workforce. These gaps may be caused by the adoption of new technologies, as well as the rapid invention of new jobs and industries. 

No matter the cause, living in a skills economy has significant implications for how career training is conducted. Traditionally, college degree programs have been the cornerstone of career training – providing future professionals with a broad base of knowledge they can apply in their fields. However, today’s hiring managers often care more about a prospective employee’s skill set than their college major. Many hiring managers practice skills-based hiring, meaning they will prioritize a prospective employee’s skills and experience over other aspects of their resume. 

Skills-Based Continued Education: Non-degree and Professional Development Courses 

Considering the importance of skills to hiring managers, there is a growing market for continuing education opportunities with a focus on practical skills building. Unlike traditional degree programs, non-degree or professional development programs focus on helping students build a specific skill set quickly. From data analytics to financial planning, the skills these professional development courses teach have a clear career application, and they can help professionals spruce up their resumes, enter a new industry, or make gains in their current career.  

Purdue University offers over 50 online professional development courses designed to help professionals grow their skill sets. Professional development courses are structured similarly to for-credit college courses, but instead of completing a course as a way of working towards a degree, students complete courses to acquire a specific skill or competency. Once the professional development course is completed, students receive a certification or digital badge rather than college credit hours.  

Professional development courses offer numerous benefits. For one, most of these courses can be completed in a matter of weeks – giving students the opportunity to build skills in less time than a traditional degree program. Because professional development courses can be completed quickly, they are also less of a financial investment for learners. Further, these courses allow students to earn credentials for every class they take, and they offer more flexibility – students can enroll in a course without committing to a larger degree program.  

Purdue’s extensive professional development online course catalogue has skill-based courses for professionals in agriculture, business, technology, teaching, construction, healthcare and more. Purdue also offers courses that focus on hobbies and life-skill building, such as winemaking and American Sign Language.  

From building hard skills in subjects like cybersecurity and data analytics, to learning a new language, to exploring a hobby, professional development courses give learners a way to expand their skill sets in a flexible, convenient format. As the job market continues to emphasize skills as a key predictor of career success, professional development courses will play a vital role in career training. The good news: Purdue’s online courses are accessible, affordable, and easy to fit into busy schedules.  

To learn more about Purdue’s professional development course offerings, please visit our online program webpage.