London – September 29, 2026 -- Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L) has agreed to acquire Workera, an AI-native skills intelligence platform used by enterprises including ServiceNow, Accenture and the United States Space Force to verify workforce capability.
Pearson targets enterprise skills verification gap as AI reshapes workforce needs
Workera combines agentic AI, psychometrics and adaptive assessment to measure employee proficiency through role-specific scenarios and simulations, rather than relying on self-reported skills data. The platform gives business leaders a live baseline of workforce capability, including AI fluency, and routes employees to targeted development that closes specific skill gaps. It also verifies whether skills improved post-training, offering measurable ROI on learning investments, and informs hiring, internal mobility and workforce planning decisions.
Deal folds 60-person Palo Alto firm into Pearson's Enterprise Learning & Skills unit
Workera, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, employs approximately 60 people serving enterprise and government clients. Upon completion, the company will join Pearson's Enterprise Learning & Skills business unit, with founder and CEO Kian Katanforoosh joining Pearson's leadership team. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to standard closing conditions including regulatory filings and approvals.
Pearson executive frames acquisition as bid for workforce-readiness standard
Vishaal Gupta, President of Enterprise Learning & Skills at Pearson, said the ability to assess and develop skills will be central to organizations navigating AI-driven change, and that Workera's continuous measurement approach gives enterprises clarity on current and future skill needs. Katanforoosh said the combination aims to build what he called a gold standard for workforce readiness, pairing Workera's AI-driven assessment technology with Pearson's assessment and learning expertise.