TalentLMS, a learning management system backed by Epignosis and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), released a report about the state of learning and development (L&D). Two years into the pandemic and with the Great Resignation in full swing, two surveys conducted among HR managers and employees in the U.S. reveal the ways companies are addressing the talent shortage, skills gaps, and the training roadblocks employees face.

According to the survey, 67% of HR managers will have an increased L&D budget in 2022. 46% already have specific training in place for new graduates who are entering the workforce, and 42% offer training to support the re-entry of formerly retired employees.

“While we're going through what's considered the biggest talent shortage in decades, with half of companies facing a skills gap, HR managers recognize the importance of bringing different generations of workers together, and of training on both hard and soft skills,” says Christina Gialleli, Director of People Operations at Epignosis.

The report also uncovers the rising importance of mental health and well-being training for the employee experience in the post-pandemic workplace. 72% of HR managers would invest in mental health and well-being training if they had a higher L&D budget, and 77% of HR managers are likely to focus on life skills within the next 12 months.

Key findings from the survey include:

• 55% of employees say they need additional training to perform better in their roles.
• 38% of employees advise companies to align training with job responsibilities, 32% believe it’s important to update training content more frequently, and 32% believe training should be more social.
• One in two employees is pursuing learning opportunities on their own, outside of training at work.
• Self-management will be among the top in-demand skills in 2022, with 83% of organizations focusing training initiatives on it.

“These statistics prove how critical it is for today’s leaders to focus on talent development. The growth of our businesses depend on pushing people beyond their boundaries,” says Jeanne Morris, Vice President of Education at SHRM.

How Training Benefits Employers

Training has a positive effect on an organization’s bottom line, employee retention, culture, and more. Here’s what HR leaders said about how training benefits their organization:

The full report can be found here: The State of L&D 2022

Source: Talent LMS