Market Overview

The global soft skills training market was valued at USD 33.39 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 92.59 Billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 11.40% during 2025-2033. Growth is driven by increasing demand across industries for workforce development, communication, leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving skills enhanced through corporate training programs and e-learning platforms.

Study Assumption Years

• Base Year: 2024
• Historical Years: 2019-2024
• Forecast Period: 2025-2033

Soft Skills Training Market Key Takeaways

• The market size was USD 33.39 Billion in 2024.
• CAGR during 2025-2033 is 11.40%.
• Forecast period extends from 2025 to 2033.
• North America leads the market with over 32.9% share in 2024 due to strong demand for leadership, communication, and workforce adaptability.
• The corporate/enterprise channel provider segment holds about 58% market share in 2024.
• Outsourced sourcing accounts for around 66.2% market share in 2024.
• Offline delivery mode leads with around 54.6% market share in 2024.
• BFSI is the largest end-use industry with about 19.1% market share in 2024.

Sample Request Link: https://www.imarcgroup.com/soft-skills-training-market/requestsample

Market Growth Factors

The soft skills training market is propelled by the rising demand for workforce development and employability enhancement across diverse industries. Employers increasingly focus on communication, leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and problem-solving skills to boost efficiency and collaboration in the workplace. For example, in March 2024, industry reports showed that although only 35% of organizations offer soft skills training, 63% of employees who received such training reported positive impacts on their work. The expanding need for human-centric skills amid growing automation and AI adoption further fuels market growth, as these skills are crucial for career advancement.

Organizations are investing significantly in corporate training programs to enhance employee engagement and productivity. The widespread adoption of e-learning and virtual training solutions allows businesses to offer flexible and scalable soft skills training to geographically distributed workforces. Key players such as education technology firms, corporate training providers, and universities offer specialized courses in leadership, communication, teamwork, and emotional intelligence, which are becoming essential for workforce capabilities.

The adoption of innovative technologies like AI-driven coaching and virtual reality training contributes to more effective upskilling efforts. For instance, companies like UPS, Walmart, and Volvo Group have incorporated VR for training in 2024, enabling employees to tackle real-world scenarios including customer interactions and field challenges. Government-backed workforce initiatives and private sector collaborations additionally support the development of a highly skilled and adaptable talent pool across vital industries such as technology, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.

Market Segmentation

Analysis by Soft Skill Type

• Management and Leadership
• Administration and Secretarial
• Communication and Productivity: This segment holds about 41.2% of the market in 2024, emphasizing effective information exchange and task management to boost collaboration and productivity.
• Personal Development
• Teamwork
• Others

Analysis by Channel Provider

• Corporate/Enterprise: Leading at approximately 58% market share in 2024, this channel integrates tailored soft skills programs within large organizations fostering a culture of continuous employee development.
• Academic/Education
• Government

Analysis by Sourcing

• In-house
• Outsourced: Dominates with around 66.2% market share in 2024, outsourcing enables businesses to leverage specialized training providers for efficient and high-quality soft skills programs.

Analysis by Delivery Mode

• Online
• Offline: Holds about 54.6% of market share in 2024, characterized by face-to-face interactive training that enhances interpersonal skills through experiential learning and real-time feedback.

Analysis by End Use Industry

• BFSI: Leading with 19.1% market share in 2024, BFSI values soft skills to improve client interactions, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Hospitality
• Healthcare
• Retail
• Media and Entertainment
• Others

Regional Insights

North America leads the global soft skills training market with a market share exceeding 32.9% in 2024. This dominance is due to dynamic business environments, technological advancements, and evolving workplace demands that require effective interpersonal skills. The region’s strong economy, established corporate learning ecosystems, and government initiatives promote continuous professional development in communication, leadership, and adaptability, driving robust market growth.

Recent Developments & News

• January 2025: The Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) launched a program to train and place 150 women in the tourism and hospitality sector, focusing on communication and teamwork to improve employability.
• December 2024: The Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) and ICMPD introduced a Soft Skills Training Module and portal targeting outgoing migrants for better job readiness, emphasizing communication, cultural adaptability, and leadership.
• December 2024: University of Phoenix launched a new soft skills pathway to enhance workplace collaboration with focus on problem-solving, decision-making, and empathetic communication.
• June 2024: IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation started a free three-month IT and soft skills training program in Karur and Coimbatore, following a 'Hire-Train-Deploy' model.
• May 2024: Kairos introduced India's first game-based training platform to enhance corporate soft skills, addressing challenges in traditional corporate training.

Key Players

• Articulate Global, LLC
• Blanchard
• CEGOS
• Coursera Inc.
• Dale Carnegie & Associates Global, Inc.
• edX LLC.
• Hemsley Fraser Group Ltd
• LinkedIn Corporation
• NIIT (USA) Inc
• QA Limited
• Skillsoft
• Udemy, Inc.

Customization Note

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

Request for customization: https://www.imarcgroup.com/request?type=report&id=2598&flag=E

About Us

IMARC Group is a global management consulting firm that helps the world’s most ambitious changemakers to create a lasting impact. The company provides a comprehensive suite of market entry and expansion services. IMARC offerings include thorough market assessment, feasibility studies, company incorporation assistance, factory setup support, regulatory approvals and licensing navigation, branding, marketing and sales strategies, competitive landscape and benchmarking analyses, pricing and cost research, and procurement research.

Contact Us

IMARC Group

134 N 4th St. Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA

Email: sales@imarcgroup.com

Tel No: (D) +91 120 433 0800

United States: +1-201971-6302