FastCampus Releases Self-Development Trend Report, Programming Tops the List

– Analysis based on a survey of 1,000 adults aged 20-59 and approximately 500,000 data points from its users
– Programming, particularly Java/Spring and Frontend Development, emerged as the most popular learning topic in 2021
– On average, users purchased 2.71 courses per year, with January being the month with the highest online course engagement

January 26, 2022 – FastCampus, a Corporate-Incubated Company (CIC) under Day1 Company, has published its Self-Development Trend: Top Skills Highlighted by Professionals Who Want to Excel report.

FastCampus created this report to better understand its customers’ needs and provide educational content that offers practical assistance amid the ongoing self-development boom triggered by COVID-19. The report is based on a survey of 1,000 adults aged 20 to 59 and around 500,000 data points from FastCampus users.

The data, spanning from 2019 to January 2022, reflects the course purchase and engagement patterns of FastCampus’s customer base. The company, which has provided over 30,000 educational content offerings to 480,000 users in fields such as programming, data science, creative, marketing, productivity, and finance, is one of the largest players in the adult education market.

The report highlights the growing popularity of programming, with 2021 seeing a particularly strong interest in Java/Spring web development, which topped the list of most-studied topics. The course recorded a transaction volume 37 times higher than the platform’s average course transaction. The second most popular course was Video Production and Editing, with over 8,000 learners, followed by Frontend Development, which had a transaction volume 25 times higher than average, signaling strong interest in programming among job seekers and professionals. Rounding out the top categories were Design Tools (4th), UX/UI Design (5th), and Excel (6th).

IT and data-related fields, particularly those focused on digital transformation, also saw significant growth. Frontend Development courses experienced a 151.64% increase in daily transactions in 2021 compared to 2020, while Excel courses saw a 185.98% increase. Additionally, 43% of university students and job seekers surveyed indicated that they intend to study programming in the future, indicating that the demand for programming skills will likely remain strong.

Interest in specific skills varied by age group. Adults aged 20 to 34, many of whom are job seekers or early-career professionals, showed the most interest in Frontend Development. Meanwhile, those aged 35 to 44 were most interested in learning Excel to enhance work efficiency. Individuals in their mid-40s and beyond showed the most interest in stock market analysis and portfolio management strategies.

The top reason adults take online courses is to “improve quality of life” (73%, multiple responses), with many seeking to enhance their job skills and personal abilities to increase overall life satisfaction. Among those who took courses for self-development, 52% reported the greatest satisfaction in improving their job skills.

On average, adults enrolled in more than two courses per year. FastCampus customers purchased an average of 2.71 courses per person, with January being the most active month for online course engagement, recording a 115% course access rate. By contrast, October saw the lowest engagement, with a 29% access rate—nearly four times lower than January.

Based on sales data from December 2021 through early 2022, the most in-demand skills for this year are Frontend Development in programming, Data Visualization in data science, Creating 3D Characters in Blender in design, and Digital Marketing in marketing.

Shin Haedong, CEO of FastCampus CIC, stated, “As a leader in the adult education market, FastCampus analyzed self-development trends using data from our extensive range of courses across all job categories. Based on these findings, we will continue to provide structured, high-quality educational content in 2022 for professionals who want to excel in their careers and prepare for the future.” The full report can be accessed on the FastCampus website.