Dive Brief:
- Half of employees in hospitality, retail and telecom are concerned about their technical skill levels, according to new research from CGS. The firm surveyed more than 600 workers in those industries and banking.
- Overall, 27% of these workers say they're on their own when it comes to training; in the telecom industry, that number jumps to 40%. And when it comes to learning formats, 37% of workers said they found instructor-led training to be the most engaging.
- Outside of salary, employees said training and development was the most important consideration when taking a new job.
Dive Insight:
Training deskless workers has long been a challenge for employers, especially because many have little time to devote to learning, but innovations in tech are bridging the gap. Smartphones are addressing part of the deskless problem, for example, while offerings like microlearning can work around the time crunch.
Access has never been greater, and some workers aren't waiting for their employers to take the reins. Still, businesses say they've heard workers demands and are increasing their learning spend.
And for those employers dealing with learning engagement and completion issues, experts have suggested that employers create a culture that values learning, offer relevant materials for today's work and outline pathways to growth. These tips, combined with regular feedback, can encourage workers to take ownership of their professional growth — without leaving them feeling like they're completely on their own.
