Soft Skills Training Market Size|Global Report [2033]

SOFT SKILLS TRAINING MARKET OVERVIEW

The global Soft Skills Training Market size was valued approximately USD 10.84 Billion in 2024 and will touch USD 25.54 Billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.99% from 2024 to 2033.

Soft Skills Training helps people get better at stuff like communicating, teamwork, problem-solving, and managing emotions. These skills are key for getting along in work and life. They help people deal with situations, team up, and face challenges. With this training, people can be more productive and create a positive vibe by talking better, staying calm, and working well together.

COVID-19 IMPACT

“Shift to Online Learning Platforms”

The COVID-19 pandemic made organizations switch to remote work fast, boosting online soft skills training. With no face-to-face meetings, companies started offering virtual workshops, webinars, and online courses. This let employees keep improving their people skills while staying safe. But, it was tough to keep everyone engaged and involved because remote learning can feel less personal and interactive. Still, many organizations found that online platforms were flexible and reached more people.

LATEST TREND

”Integration of Technology and AI Tools”

The latest trend in soft skills training is using advanced tech like AI and VR. AI platforms can personalize learning, giving each person tailored courses based on their progress and preferences. VR lets learners practice soft skills in lifelike situations, like communication, solving conflicts, and leadership. These techs make training more engaging, give real-time feedback, and make soft skills training more interactive and effective.

SOFT SKILLS TRAINING MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Based on Type, the global market can be categorized into In-house and Outsourced.

In-house Soft Skills Training: In-house soft skills training means the company creates and runs its own programs, tailored to its needs and culture. Big companies like it because it’s personal and fits their goals. But it can be costly and time-consuming to set up. With remote work, in-house training is now more flexible using online tools.

Outsourced Soft Skills Training: Outsourced soft skills training means hiring outside experts to handle the training. They bring new ideas, specialized skills, and fresh perspectives that the company might not have. This is popular with smaller companies or those without resources to build their own programs. External trainers offer high-quality training that works well in big organizations and often specialize in areas like leadership or emotional intelligence.

By Application

Based on application, the global market can be categorized into BFSI, Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail, Media and Entertainment, Others.

BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance): In the BFSI sector, soft skills training helps employees improve communication, customer service, sales, and leadership, so they can interact with clients professionally. As competition gets tougher, companies see that good relationships, solving conflicts, and personalized service are important. With more digital communication, training now also covers managing customer relationships online and using virtual tools well.

Hospitality: In hospitality, soft skills training helps with customer service, talking, working together, and understanding emotions. Employees learn to care for guests and pay attention to details. Since good service is key, there's a big need for skilled staff. Hotels, resorts, and restaurants are investing in training.

Healthcare: Healthcare soft skills training helps workers improve communication, empathy, teamwork, and stress management, making it easier to connect with patients, families, and colleagues. As healthcare focuses more on patients, these skills are increasingly important. Training helps improve patient satisfaction, reduce misunderstandings, and create a positive work environment by teaching staff to communicate clearly and care about emotions.

Retail: In retail, soft skills training focuses on customer service, sales, conflict resolution, and good communication. Employees learn to talk nicely and professionally to customers, which helps sell more and keeps customers happy. With online shopping and more ways to buy, retailers are investing in training staff to give great service both in stores and online. This training is super important for salespeople and front-line staff.

Media and Entertainment: In media and entertainment, soft skills training covers creativity, teamwork, communication, leadership, and conflict handling. Employees learn to work with teams, explain ideas, and manage projects under stress. With technology and digital platforms changing, soft skills are key for handling new ideas and creative teamwork, making this training really important for professionals in this field.

Others: This covers industries like education, manufacturing, tech, government, and nonprofits. They all use soft skills training for leadership, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. It's becoming more popular as it helps create a good work culture, improve teamwork, and boost productivity. Soft skills are key for success now that companies focus more on employee development.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market dynamics include driving and restraining factors, opportunities and challenges stating the market conditions.

Driving Factors

”Increased Emphasis on Customer Experience”

As businesses focus on customer satisfaction, the demand for soft skills training has grown. Companies know that technical skills alone won’t build loyalty; employees need to connect with customers professionally and empathetically. Training in communication, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence helps improve customer relationships, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty. In industries like BFSI, hospitality, and retail, where customer interaction is frequent, soft skills are essential for a great experience.

Restraining Factor

”Lack of Awareness and Understanding of Soft Skills Importance”

A big reason why the soft skills training market isn't growing as much is that a lot of companies don't realize how important soft skills are. They still think technical skills are more important and don't value soft skills much. This means they don't invest much in soft skills training, especially in fields where technical skills are a top priority. Without realizing how soft skills improve employee performance, customer satisfaction, and overall success, companies may be reluctant to put resources into training programs.

Opportunity

”Growing Focus on Employee Development and Retention”

Now, companies understand how important it is to keep employees engaged and happy, so soft skills training is a big part of their growth. When they invest in it, employees feel happier, more content with their jobs, and more loyal, which helps them keep the best talent. This focus on helping employees grow is opening up a big chance for the soft skills training market, as companies search for ways to create positive, long-lasting work environments.

Challenge

”Measuring the Effectiveness of Soft Skills Training”

One of the hardest things about the soft skills training market is knowing if it really pays off. It's hard to measure stuff like how well people communicate, feel for others, or understand emotions. A lot of companies can't see how the training boosts employees' work, teamwork, or business success. Without a clear way to see its effects, companies might be hesitant to spend money on it, which could slow down the market's growth.

SOFT SKILLS TRAINING MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

North America

In North America, especially the U.S. and Canada, soft skills training is booming. Companies are working on better communication, leadership, and teamwork, especially in virtual settings and with remote teams. Diversity and inclusion training is also up, helping employees work together, no matter their backgrounds. North American businesses often want custom training, making the market competitive with many options, including in-house and outsourced programs.

Europe

In Europe, soft skills training is growing as companies recognize their importance for productivity and a positive work culture. Western Europe focuses on leadership, communication, and customer service, while Eastern Europe is catching up. With more digital changes, skills like virtual communication and managing remote teams are in demand. Overall, companies are investing more in training to help employees adjust to workplace changes.

Asia

In Asia, soft skills training is growing fast, especially in countries like China, India, Japan, and South Korea. As economies shift to service-based industries, companies are focusing on leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. In India, the IT sector emphasizes customer service, while Japan and South Korea focus on leadership. With more global businesses, cross-cultural communication training is also increasing. Online platforms are making training more accessible, but traditional mindsets in some industries slow progress.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

”Online Training Becomes a New Trend in the Market”

The soft skills training market is super competitive. Lots of players offer different solutions, like training providers, consultants, online courses, and company training teams. They all try to meet unique industry needs, like leadership or communication skills. Businesses want affordable, scalable options, so online training is becoming more popular. With companies focusing on employee growth, competition is heating up, and providers are coming up with new, flexible ways to stay ahead.

List of Top Soft Skills Training Companies

Articulate Global Inc.
Cengage Learning Inc.
Computer Generated Solutions Inc.
D2L Corporation
FranklinCovey

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

In June 2021, Skillsoft Corporation announced the acquisition of Pluma, Inc., an acquisition that will help the company expand its leadership development capabilities.

REPORT COVERAGE

The study encompasses a comprehensive SWOT analysis and provides insights into future developments within the market. It examines various factors that contribute to the growth of the market, exploring a wide range of market categories and potential applications that may impact its trajectory in the coming years. The analysis takes into account both current trends and historical turning points, providing a holistic understanding of the market's components and identifying potential areas for growth.

The soft skills training market is booming because businesses want to boost employee performance, customer service, and leadership. With digital changes, remote work, and focusing more on employee well-being, skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are super important. This has led to more in-house and outsourced training programs. Companies are investing in tailored solutions, and digital platforms like e-learning and virtual training are making soft skills training more available and scalable.

In the future, the soft skills training market will keep growing because companies care more about long-term employee development than short-term goals. Leadership, diversity, inclusion, and mental health will be key drivers. As businesses go global and workforces get more diverse, cross-cultural communication and adaptability training will be needed more. Digital training tools and virtual learning will keep shaping the market, giving companies new, affordable, and flexible ways to offer soft skills training.