Is Skillshare Worth It?

There are many ways to learn new skills online, from in-depth YouTube videos to short clips on TikTok. And while there's no shortage of video content, not all are helpful.

That's why many people are turning to online platforms that teach courses on how to develop specific skills. And doing so could be very beneficial for workers' personal finances.

A Gallup survey shows that workers who participate in programs that increase their skills -- either through their employer or on their own -- earn an average of $8,000 more annually than those who don't.

If you're considering broadening your skillset and potentially boosting your earning potential, here's why you may want to consider the online learning site Skillshare.

What is Skillshare?

Skillshare is an online learning community with 25,000 video classes taught by 8,000 teachers. The platform mainly focuses on creative topics, including:

• Writing
• Graphic design
• Video creation
• Illustration
• Web development

There are some free courses on the platform, though most classes are part of Skillshare's paid subscription. The annual cost is $165, but when I researched the site, there was a deal for one free month and 40% off the yearly subscription price.

A subscription allows you to watch all the courses on Skillshare, offline viewing of courses, and access to the Skillshare online community.

Why you might want to use Skillshare

There are some practical reasons to spend time learning a new skill or developing your skill set, particularly in the current employment landscape.

• LinkedIn research shows job skill sets have changed 25% since 2015 and will change by 50% by 2027. In short, what companies are looking for from employees is changing quickly.
• According to Gallup, the average salary increase for a worker who participated in an upskilling program was 8.6% (that $8,000 average mentioned above).

While learning a new skill on Skillshare doesn't guarantee that your salary will increase, these statistics show how important it is for workers to continue developing their skills.

Skillshare may be worth it for these reasons

There are lots of reasons to consider learning a new skill, but here are three that might make getting a Skillshare subscription worth it for you.

1. To boost your earning potential

As I mentioned earlier, employees who learn new skills have more opportunities to earn more money. If you're looking for a way to convince your boss to give you a raise or you want to change jobs, taking some Skillshare classes could be a good option.

2. To start a side hustle

Skillshare has many classes focused on creative topics, which can be great for side hustles. Spending some time going through several courses could help you launch side projects in web development, graphic design, photography, or other freelancing avenues.

3. To develop new skills just for fun

Learning new skills or trying out a new hobby can be good for your mental health, and it doesn't have to be focused on increasing your savings. Skillshare's classes could be a great way to develop a creative hobby or explore new skills you've never thought of before.

Ultimately, paying for a Skillshare subscription will be worth it for some people and not for others. But with thousands of courses to choose from -- and a free trial -- there's no real downside to testing out the platform to see if it's right for you.