As learning professionals might expect, one of the biggest learning stories of the year was the rise of artificial intelligence tools and the need to teach workers how those tools might be used. But it was far from the only storyline that dominated 2024.

Apprenticeships once again made headlines as the Biden administration pushed more investments in the federal Registered Apprenticeship program — though the U.S. Department of Labor in November abandoned its attempted rule-making to tighten RA standards after it repealed the former Trump administration’s apprenticeship rule in 2022.

But one of the bigger trends revolved around manager performance — or lack thereof. Many of the year’s top L&D stories involved the impact of managers on the performance of their teams, dovetailing with stories on the importance of soft skills, even as technology rises at work.

Going into 2025, L&D may be focused on ensuring company leaders can lead through a time of change, as Gartner indicated in one of its reports from October.

More of the year’s top stories in the learning space can be found below.