LinkedIn users looking to pick up a few new skills can now watch the social networking site’s top online classes for free.

Linkedin Learning recently announced that it has opened 20 of its most popular training courses of the year to people who want to upskill or reskill. Members can take up any of the classes for free until 31 August.

Future-proofing careers

With Covid causing massive changes in workplaces globally, workers are forced to come up with ways to meet the demand. Many turn to e-learning courses, such as those offered by LinkedIn Learning, to build their skills and future-proof their career.

This year alone, some 7.3 million people have already taken part in LinkedIn classes, according to the company. That’s nearly double the number of participants it had during the same period in 2021.

Read more: Robots are coming for your job. Here's how you can be irreplaceable

LinkedIn said hard (technical) skills courses are still some of the most in-demand online programs available on the platform. These include classes on Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and Python programming. 

However, the company has also seen an increase in the number of people taking classes on soft skills building, such as improving teamwork and communication.

The class on setting goals using objectives and key results (OKRs) is the number 1 most popular course on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Learning classes are hosted by professionals who are leaders in their own respective fields. Participants benefit from the hosts’ wealth of knowledge and experience working for the top companies in the world.

“By developing durable skills in tandem with the hard skills you need to do your job well now, you will set yourself up for success tomorrow and beyond,” LinkedIn wrote.

Read more: The most vital 'human' skills for HR professionals

Top online courses on LinkedIn Learning

Here are the 20 most popular online courses on LinkedIn Learning this year:

1. Goal Setting: Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) by Jessie Withers

2. Excel Essential Training (Office 365/Microsoft 365) by Dennis Taylor 

3. Interpersonal Communication by Dorie Clark

4. Cultivating a Growth Mindset by Gemma Leigh Roberts

5. Project Management Foundations by Bonnie Biafore     

6. Using Questions to Foster Critical Thinking and Curiosity by Joshua Miller

7. Essentials of Team Collaboration by Dana Brownlee

8. Unconscious Bias by Stacey Gordon 

9. Learning Python by Joe Marini

10. Communicating with Confidence by Jeff Ansell

11. Speaking Confidently and Effectively by Pete Mockaitis

12. Learning the OWASP Top 10 by Caroline Wong

13. Power BI Essential Training by Gini von Courter

14. Strategic Thinking by Dorie Clark

15. SQL Essential Training by Bill Weinman

16. Developing Your Emotional Intelligence by Gemma Leigh Roberts

17. Communication Foundations by Brenda Bailey-Hughes and Tatiana Kolovou

18. Agile Foundations by Doug Rose

19. Digital Marketing Foundations by Brad Batesole

20. Critical Thinking by Mike Figliuolo