The research examines the level of development of these skills among students across 5 regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific. It also provides breakdowns by industry and field of study.
To prepare the 2020 Skills Index, data from 65 million learners on the Coursera platform were analyzed (performance data over the last 12 months). The study conducted a comparative analysis of students across 60 countries, 10 industries, and 11 fields of study in 3 domains considered fundamental for the future: Business, Technology, and Data Science.
The ranking categorized countries into 4 levels: Lagging (skills in the 25th percentile or lower), Emerging (skills between 26% and 50%), Competitive (51% to 75%), and Cutting-Edge (76% or higher).
The data confirms that "countries with greater equality across multiple dimensions (e.g., digital, economic, education, and labor force participation) are also those with higher skills. Furthermore, countries with higher skill proficiency experience greater long-term GDP returns. Additionally, countries with more equal access to the Internet are also those with higher skills."
Situation in Latin America
In the technology skills category, several Latin American countries ranked among the emerging nations. In this domain, Argentina leads the region: it ranks 41st globally, with an average index of 32%. It achieves standout performance in the subsegments of software engineering (68%) and databases (68%). In the data science domain, Argentina stands out among competitive countries, ranking 22nd globally with an index of 64% and notable strengths in data visualization (78%), data management (83%), and statistical programming (75%).
The report highlights that Argentina hosts a vibrant tech ecosystem and that its free higher education system helps explain its strong skills in technology and data science. Furthermore, the country's population consistently ranks among the most educated in Latin America and possesses the highest level of English proficiency, which has contributed to its development as an IT provider and global outsourcing hub for software development.
Within the Latin American region, Brazil ranks second in overall tech skills (its global ranking is 42nd) and falls into the group of emerging countries with an index of 31%. This country stands out for its remarkable performance in software engineering, a subsegment in which it ranks 6th out of 60 countries with an index of 92%.
Chile is also part of the emerging group of countries in technology skills: it ranks 44th, with an average index of 27%, though it has an outstanding indicator (90%) in the software engineering subfield and solid performance in human-computer interaction (64%). Additionally, Chile excels in data science, where it ranks 30th globally with an index of 51%, earning a spot among competitive countries.
The report indicates that Mexico has the potential to become an innovation driver for Latin America, provided it overcomes its economic challenges. In the field of data science, this nation ranks 48th globally, excelling in mathematics, where it achieves an index of 73%.
Peru, for its part, ranks 53rd globally in technology, reaching a solid score in the software development subsegment (47%). In data science, it holds the 52nd spot, showing good results in data management (68%) and data visualization (54%).
Skills are essential for quality and sustainable employment. Furthermore, according to the study, every percentile of skill mastery gained by a country is associated with a $600 increase in per capita GDP.
To view the full details of the ranking and the positions held by each nation across various fields, we recommend reading the full report.
What is your opinion on the performance of your region and your country in this ranking?
Perspective on the Regional and National Performance
The results of the Coursera Skills Index highlight both structural strengths and clear growth opportunities for Latin America, and specifically for Argentina, as a regional IT exporter:
- Argentina's Technical & Linguistic Edge:
- Data Science Leadership: Ranking 22nd globally in Data Science places Argentina at the level of mature tech markets. High scores in data management (83%) and statistical programming (75%) reflect a strong academic foundation.
- English Proficiency & Free Education: The combination of a tuition-free university system and leading regional English proficiency creates a highly adaptable talent pool capable of seamlessly integrating into international engineering workflows (such as U.S. nearshoring operations).
- Regional Specialization in Software Engineering:
- Across LATAM, Software Engineering emerges as a clear regional superpower—seen in Brazil’s 6th global ranking (92%), Chile’s 90%, and Argentina’s 68%. This demonstrates that while overall infrastructure and digital adoption across the region may be in the "Emerging" tier, the engineering talent itself is top-tier.
- Key Challenges to Address:
- Broader Digital Access: The study explicitly links skill levels with equal internet access and economic stability. Regional economic volatility and infrastructure gaps remain the primary bottlenecks preventing these skill indexes from scaling across larger portions of the workforce.
- Translating Skills to Macro Impact: As noted, each percentile gain correlates with a $600 increase in per capita GDP. For Latin America, turning these individual skill proficiencies into sustainable macroeconomic growth requires continued investment in STEM education, digital infrastructure, and policies that encourage high-value service exports.