Coursera’s CEO Greg Hart told employers and students that microcredentials—short, employer-aligned certificates—will be decisive for hiring in 2026. He cited Coursera data showing heavy employer preference for candidates who demonstrate targeted upskilling, especially in AI, data science, cybersecurity and project management. Hart pointed to Google professional certificates and data-science programs as top sellers; Coursera’s Jobs Skills report for 2025 frames microcredentials as a rapid credentialing path employers are increasingly valuing. Higher‑education leaders and career offices may need to reweight offerings toward stacked certificates and employer partnerships to keep graduates competitive.