LinkedIn Learning, formerly known as Lynda.com, is one of the world’s largest online learning platforms. With a vast library of video courses taught by industry experts, LinkedIn Learning serves professionals looking to gain new skills and advance their careers. But just how many users does LinkedIn Learning have accessing this premium content? Let’s take a closer look at the platform’s user numbers and growth.
LinkedIn Learning’s Launch and Early Years
LinkedIn acquired Lynda.com in 2015 for $1.5 billion and rebranding it as LinkedIn Learning in 2016. At the time, Lynda.com had served over 4 million learners. Under LinkedIn, the platform continued expanding its course library and user base.
By 2017, LinkedIn Learning had over 9,000 courses in its catalog. The same year, the professional social network stated the e-learning platform had reached 6,000 corporate customers. While LinkedIn has not regularly shared specific user figures, these early milestones demonstrated rapid growth under its new owner.
Signs Point to Tens of Millions of Users
In recent years, LinkedIn has begun touting benchmarks that indirectly disclose the scale of LinkedIn Learning’s user base. In 2020, the company said learners had viewed over 13 million hours of content on the platform. The following year, total view hours reached 25 million.
Assuming an average course length of 2-3 hours, these figures would require millions of active learners on the platform. Reports estimate LinkedIn Learning has between 11 million and 13 million users. However, without concrete data from LinkedIn, it’s impossible to determine an exact figure.
LinkedIn User Accounts Point to Massive Potential Reach
While the number of active LinkedIn Learning users is uncertain, LinkedIn’s total user account numbers showcase the massive potential reach of its e-learning platform. As of October 2022, LinkedIn has over 875 million members worldwide. This gives LinkedIn Learning visibility across nearly the entire professional workforce.
Currently, LinkedIn Learning is bundled with premium LinkedIn subscriptions. This means any of the platform’s 62 million premium subscribers could access its course library. However, it is unknown how many premium members actively utilize the e-learning offering.
Most Users Likely Come Through Enterprise Plans
LinkedIn also touts over 18,000 business customers using its enterprise Learning Hub platform. These corporate learners likely make up the bulk of LinkedIn Learning’s active user base. Large multinational companies often purchase thousands of LinkedIn Learning licenses for their employees.
For example, Adobe made LinkedIn Learning available to all 22,000 of its global employees in 2018. Other major corporations like HP, Comcast, and Capital One have also signed large enterprise deals. Partnering with big business has been crucial to LinkedIn Learning’s expansion.
Growth Accelerated During the Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic gave a significant boost to LinkedIn Learning’s user activity and engagement. In 2021, LinkedIn reported:
- Hours spent watching learning videos increased nearly 40% year-over-year
- Highest per-user engagement ever on the platform
- Course enrollments grew over 50%
With professionals working remotely and focusing on skills development, e-learning became more essential than ever. LinkedIn Learning’s extensive course library saw skyrocketing demand.
The company accelerated its content production, stating it launched over 1,000 new courses in fields like data science and digital marketing. This influx of fresh, relevant courses fueled further usage increases.
Surge in Interest for Tech and Business Skills
Additionally, the pandemic shifted what learners were most interested in studying on LinkedIn Learning. According to the company, the most popular subjects in 2020 were:
- Software and IT
- Business Skills
- Design
- Marketing
- Personal Development
Professionals focused on hard skills for in-demand fields like software development and data analytics. But soft skills like leadership and teamwork also saw spikes in interest. LinkedIn Learning’s extensive expertise across hot job market skills likely fueled user growth.
How Many LinkedIn Learning Users Are There in 2022?
LinkedIn has not publicly disclosed its total number of active Learning users in 2022. However, experts estimate it has surpassed over 15 million learners based on its content hours benchmarks.
The platform is positioned to see continued growth through its LinkedIn integration. With nearly 900 million LinkedIn members and surging interest in skills development, LinkedIn Learning has barely tapped the professional social network’s user base.
Expanding its enterprise Learning Hub product will also drive increased users for LinkedIn. As more major multinational companies purchase licenses, millions of new corporate learners will gain access. Given strong demand, LinkedIn Learning could feasibly see over 20 million active users in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn Learning has millions of active users, but LinkedIn has not shared an official total
- Experts estimate LinkedIn Learning currently has 15-20 million users based on usage metrics
- The platform saw significant growth during Covid as remote workers pursued new skills
- LinkedIn Learning is positioned for ongoing expansion through LinkedIn integrations and enterprise deals
With its massive course library and LinkedIn reach, LinkedIn Learning has become a go-to training platform for professionals worldwide. Precise user figures are elusive, but experts agree millions are now tapping LinkedIn Learning to upgrade their skillsets and advance their careers in today’s hypercompetitive job market.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many courses does LinkedIn Learning offer?
As of October 2022, LinkedIn Learning has over 17,000 courses in its catalog across a huge range of skill areas, including technology, creative skills, business management, and personal development. The platform continues rapidly expanding its content library each year.
Who owns LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is owned by LinkedIn and operates as a subsidiary of the professional social media network. LinkedIn acquired e-learning platform Lynda.com for $1.5 billion in 2015 and rebranded it as LinkedIn Learning in 2016.
How much does LinkedIn Learning cost?
LinkedIn Learning is bundled with LinkedIn Premium subscriptions, which cost $29.99 per month. However, it is also sold through enterprise agreements to businesses. Companies typically pay around $250-$500 per employee for annual access to LinkedIn Learning.
Can you get LinkedIn Learning for free?
LinkedIn Learning does not offer a free version of its platform or course content. However, LinkedIn members can access over 15,000 free short learning videos through its LinkedIn Learning Hub. These provide samples of the training available on the full premium platform.
How long are LinkedIn Learning courses?
LinkedIn Learning courses range from quick 15-20 minute tutorials up to several hours of training. On average, courses are approximately 2-3 hours long. The video-based courses allow learners to learn skills and concepts at their own pace.
The Growth of Online Learning
LinkedIn Learning’s rapid rise provides insights into the enormous growth of the global online education and e-learning market. With the internet making learning accessible anywhere, e-learning platforms have exploded in popularity. And the events of 2020 kicked this digital learning trend into overdrive.
In 2019, the e-learning market was valued at $187 billion. But after the shift to remote work and school during the pandemic, projections say it could reach $370 billion by 2026. Top platforms are reporting record user growth.
For example, online learning giant Coursera saw its user base skyrocket 536% year over year in 2021. edX also added over 16 million new learners in 2020. Like LinkedIn Learning, these platforms provide affordable, flexible access to training content from top institutions and experts. This accessibility is fueling e-learning’s rise with professionals, companies, and students.
Benefits Driving E-Learning Adoption
Why has online learning become so popular? There are several key advantages attracting users to these platforms:
- Accessibility – Online content available anytime, anywhere if you have an internet connection
- Affordability – Lower cost compared to traditional college and training programs
- Flexibility – Learn at your own pace and on your schedule
- Variety – Huge range of courses and subjects to choose from
E-learning provides flexibility and scalability traditional education models cannot match. These strengths have proven especially invaluable amid the pandemic’s disruptions.
Enterprise Deals Driving Market Growth
But it is not just individual learners flocking to online education. Enterprises are also purchasing e-learning licenses in record numbers. With budgets for in-person training slashed, companies invested heavily in digital skills development over the past two years.
LinkedIn Learning and platforms like Skillsoft have benefited tremendously from this corporate e-learning boom. Skillsoft reported a 34% increase in bookings from global enterprises in Q1 2022 alone. As the future of work evolves, online employee training provides value to both employers and workers.
Both trends—the growth in individual learners and corporate enterprise deals—show no signs of slowing down. This creates a long runway for LinkedIn Learning and e-learning more broadly to continue disrupting education and professional development in coming years.
The Outlook for LinkedIn Learning
In the fast-changing modern economy, the demand to gain new skills and re-skill will only accelerate. By all accounts, LinkedIn Learning sits at the forefront of meeting this demand in the years ahead. Tens of millions of learners are already tapping its massive course library for affordable and flexible training.
LinkedIn Learning’s usage surged during the pandemic as homebound professionals focused on skills development. But these pandemic-fueled gains appear sticky rather than temporary. LinkedIn’s latest data shows skills-related activity has remained elevated even as restrictions have eased.
And the platform has plenty of room left to expand its reach. Only a fraction of LinkedIn’s nearly 900 million members currently use LinkedIn Learning. Growing its presence across the full LinkedIn user base represents a massive growth opportunity. Further expanding enterprise Learning Hub deals will also add millions of new corporate learners.
As online learning continues disrupting higher education and professional development, LinkedIn Learning has an opportunity to grow into the premier destination for working professionals. Its unmatched content library combined with LinkedIn’s powerful networking features make for a unique e-learning proposition.
While LinkedIn Learning’s total user figure remains uncertain for now, its impact on the future of learning and skills training is already evident. Millions of learners worldwide are using the platform to access affordable, high-quality training and education. For any professional looking to advance their skills and career, LinkedIn Learning offers an invaluable tool to do so online, anytime, anywhere.