National Survey Shows Remote Learners Lead In Career Confidence

Learners who studied remotely are emerging as the most confident group when it comes to their future careers, according to new national research published by Skills Group.

The 2025 The Learner Outlook Aotearoa, New Zealand survey, published by Skills Group, included responses from learners across Skills Ignite, Skills Premier, Etco, E-tec, and ICE.

The Learner Outlook Aotearoa, New Zealand survey, based on responses from over 1,200 of its graduates across Skills Ignite, Skills Premier, Etco, E-tec, and ICE. It reveals that distance learners consistently report higher-than-average confidence in both their future prospects and career progression, outperforming those who studied on campus.

Mark Worsop, Skills Group Director of Vocational Training and Higher Education, highlighted that while only 13% of the 1,200+ surveyed were distance learners, this group consistently reported higher levels of career confidence than any other.

“When it came to career progress, distance learners stood out,” Mark says. “They gave an average confidence rating of 4.1 out of 5 - the highest across all learner groups - indicating that they saw strong value in the qualifications they had earned.”

This trend extended beyond self-assurance. Distance learners were also the most optimistic about the job market, with an average score of 3.7 out of 5. This suggests not only high confidence in their own skills, but also a strong belief in the employment relevance of their training - underscoring the growing legitimacy and impact of remote and flexible learning pathways.

“These results clearly challenge any outdated perceptions about online study being less effective or less valuable,” Mark says.

“In fact, learners engaging through distance modes are showing the strongest belief in the relevance of their qualification to real-world outcomes.”

The findings are particularly relevant in today’s post-pandemic, mobile workforce and education landscape, where hybrid and remote learning options have become increasingly mainstream.

Explaining the results and learner confidence, Mark says that Skills Group was increasingly finding that distance and online learners are making a deliberate and conscious choice to study this way.

“They fully understand as learners what the commitment entails which is carrying through to their post qualification confidence.

“This is a clear signal that flexible education is not only viable - it’s empowering,” Mark says.

“For working adults, parents, and those in regional areas, distance learning is opening up meaningful pathways to upskilling and career advancement.”

The report sets a baseline for an ongoing longitudinal study to track learner outcomes over time and inform education policy and workforce development efforts across New Zealand.

*About this study:

DATA COLLECTION

The research was undertaken to the highest possible standards and in accord with the principles detailed in the RANZ Code of Practice which is based on the ESOMAR Code of Conduct for Market Research.

This report was prepared by SIL Research for SKILLS.

A total of 1,206 graduates participated in the survey, drawn from across Etco, ICE, Skills Ignite and Skills Premier.

This sample size allows the results to be reported with a margin of error of ±2.82% at the 95% confidence level when responses are evenly split (50/50), and ±2.26% when responses are more polarised (80/20).

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