Pearson Report: 78% of Employers Choose Certification with $17,646 Annual Value
Pearson's 2026 Value of IT Certification Employer Report shows 78% of employers pick professional certification as their top upskilling investment, with 93% reporting positive ROI and an estimated USD 17,646 in additional annual value per certified IT employee. Employers predict certification importance will rise over the next 3–5 years.
1. Report Highlights
Pearson’s 2026 Value of IT Certification Employer Report surveyed 505 IT and HR leaders and found 78% of organizations select professional certification as their primary upskilling investment, while 92% require or strongly prioritize certification in workforce strategy. Employee sentiment aligns, with 84% planning to pursue additional certifications within 12 months.
2. Financial Impact
Employers estimate each certified IT employee delivers an average of USD 17,646 in additional annual value, rising to nearly USD 20,000 in workforces fully equipped with up-to-date skills. Ninety-three percent of organizations report a positive return on investment from certified IT staff.
3. Skills Gap Focus
The largest skills gaps exist in high-risk, high-impact areas such as AI, machine learning, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Nine in ten IT leaders believe certification will become even more critical over the next 3–5 years to close these gaps.
4. Business Outcomes
Organizations link certification investments to improved operational metrics: 66% cite more efficient IT operations, 65% report stronger IT team performance, 64% note higher project success rates, and over 60% attribute certification to accelerated technology adoption, competitive advantage and better employee retention.