10 Main Corporate Training Trends + Stats [2024]

ollowing technology, educational industries, and the economy, corporate training is logically developing and changing. Companies everywhere are waking up to the fact that keeping their teams learning and growing is key to staying competitive. 

From new educational technologies to creating a culture where learning never stops, the corporate training trends this year are all about innovation and smart strategies. In this article, we'll break down the top 10 trends in training and development for 2024, packed with stats and expert insights to keep you in the know. Let’s get started!

#1. New opportunities thanks to AI

Some people may already be sick of this learning and development trend because literally, everyone is talking about it today🤪. However, the inevitability of using artificial intelligence in training, in particular generative AI, is really obvious today. The authors of Innovative Pedagogy report note that in the corporate sphere, AI can act as:

• a tutor who will offer students instant feedback;
• an assistant who can take notes on educational material or answer users' questions;
• a coach – it will analyze a large task, break it down into blocks, and even help with their implementation.

💡Interesting Stats: The latest data shows that AI helps 73% of employees understand the learning material better and 63% study more efficiently.

Yet, analysts advise not to succumb to the hype and carefully select AI tools for tasks. In addition, it’s worth analyzing how they will affect the relationship between trainers and employees and adhering to the principle of transparency. This means not hiding the fact of using new technologies from everyone involved in the learning process. Some people will probably not like this, and these people need help to overcome their fear of innovation first.

#2. Gamification to improve learning efficiency

💡Interesting Stats: A Gartner report shows that gamification has been adopted by more than 70% of businesses belonging to the Global 2000 list of companies.

This method has been known for some time, and it still works in 2024. This approach helps make any boring information exciting. For example, employees can develop a new skill on various simulators or take a course like a game novel.

Gamification techniques in corporate training include exciting storytelling (course scenario), accrual of points and other rewards that can be exchanged for real gifts, and the use of leaderboards.

AI, VR, and AR can be used to complicate game mechanics. For example, artificial intelligence can change the course scenario depending on the player's actions, as well as simulate the process of communication with the client.

It’s not always necessary to involve developers in creating training materials with game techniques. In modern gamified LMS, you can create a mini-game using triggers – when a mouse click starts an action, for example. Even PowerPoint has this feature, but learning management systems offer more options for creating interactivity.

#3. Multimodal learning

Multimodal learning (that is, the presentation of educational content simultaneously in different formats, including videos, texts, podcasts, illustrations, and interactive elements) is not a new phenomenon, but it’s only now beginning to be truly appreciated. This is due to the rapid development of new technologies and global social changes.

Experts believe that specialized training departments should be able to work with multimodality. To do this, it’s necessary to understand the capabilities and limitations of different formats, be able to effectively combine them, and correctly select them for selected goals. Creating training for employees today requires a good understanding of such things, especially since with the advent of generative AI, educational content can be created much faster than before.

💡Interesting Stats: According to experts, only 23% of L&D programs today can be considered truly multimodal. 

The fact is that multimodality doesn’t necessarily mean simply mixing formats. The main thing is to achieve synergy between different channels and their perception.

Here are the recommendations given by the authors of the report:

• If you have never mixed different formats in training, you should first gain experience and understanding of how they are useful for employees.
• If you have already had such an experience, try to survey your audience – which formats attract and engage people more, and which less.
• Experiment with different forms of content, but be careful not to overload students by using several channels of their perception at once.

#4. Challenge-Based Learning

Challenge Based Learning involves engaging students in a complex task and finding a solution. CBL involves three main steps: engaging through questions, investigation, and action.

This model is used in modern advanced schools to develop soft skills in children — the same curiosity, creativity, and ability to work in a team. Corporations have also taken note: experts explain this workplace learning trend by the popularity of the constructivist approach and learning through experience. Simply put, this is a trend for employees to actively acquire knowledge themselves, and not just “listen” to corporate trainers.

💡Interesting stats: A combination of challenge-based & gamification learning can improve employee performance by 89.45% compared to lecture-based education.

However, it’s difficult to implement challenge-based learning in the workplace — solving a challenging learning task requires time, effort, and great concentration to lead to significant results. Without support, it’s impossible to complete such a program, and not all employers will want to go for such a complex organization, despite the advantages.

#5. Microlearning

As companies become more mobile, the need for microlearning is also growing. And this one of the corporate training trends that will only continue to gain popularity in the next few years. 

💡Interesting Stats: A German study highlights that 80% of employees who used an online microlearning environment felt they were more accurate at performing their tasks, and 78% said they were more confident about completing tasks correctly.

Creating short, targeted knowledge summaries that address employees’ immediate learning needs and delivering them at the right time makes this form of training especially important.

Short pieces of information can be in the form of text, video, animation, or even audio. The idea behind microlearning is to provide employees with training materials that they can access whenever they want, without taking a lot of time.

#6. Personalized Learning Paths 

Often, companies logically select materials that develop the professional qualities of their staff. The task that comes to the forefront is for a specialist to be able to work effectively in their positions.

Now, managers increasingly pay attention to the personal qualities of an employee and their preferences for what they would like to study. Based on competencies, development areas, and wishes, you can create an individual training track.

Fortunately, we have the opportunity to automate this process with learning management systems. Thus, an employee takes tests to determine their competencies and receives an assessment from colleagues (for example, using the "360 degrees" method). Based on the data, the system builds an individual development track – and suggests when & what courses to take.

#7. Developing Lifelong Learning Skills

Previously, companies trained staff mainly at the stage when an employee had just started working in the organization or moved to a new position. This is understandable – they need to solve new problems. 

But is that really all you need — to just create a “machine” that completes specific tasks? Or do you still want proactive, creative, and engaged employees? Then you should consider this trend in corporate training – continuous learning. 

💡Interesting Stats: Compared to 40% in 2020, in 2023, 63% of workers (or 36% of all adults in the USA) are now professional learners. This means they've taken a course or received additional training in the past 12 months to boost their job skills or advance their careers.

And since training becomes end-to-end, HR departments are thinking about how to integrate it into the work process without disrupting the employee’s schedule and tasks. For example, they build in hints when a specialist starts working on new software, create bots that remind them that they need to take a short test and collect a knowledge base that can be accessed from any device. Use your imagination 🙂.

#8. Inclusivity 

International companies already try to take into account that employees aren’t a uniform “mass”; among them, there are representatives of different nationalities and cultures, and people with special needs in health and development. Training materials and programs should also either reflect this or at least avoid examples and language that might offend someone. A very simple example: the wording “person with a disability” in modern realities is more ethical than “disabled person”.

The British Open University suggests meeting following rules to avoid misunderstandings and make all staff feel part of the team:

• Involve employees in the development of educational content or try to get feedback from them both at the development stage and immediately after the launch of a particular program to quickly correct errors.
• Test training materials for intercultural sensitivity (again, staff with different backgrounds and experiences can help with this).
• If you are planning to develop training scenarios or case studies, this is a great opportunity to include employee experiences that haven’t yet been presented.

💡Interesting Stats: Based on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Global Market Report, companies with highly diverse teams noticed a significant increase in cash flow — to the tune of 2.5 times per employee.

#9. Entrepreneurial training

Entrepreneurial mindset training focuses on developing crucial business skills in employees. These include creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and adding value to the company's products. Recently, there's been increasing emphasis on the need for employees who can make independent decisions and demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking, not just follow orders.

This type of training also helps identify and grow true leaders within the team. Teaching these skills to all employees can reveal those with strong leadership potential. Experts recommend various methods to achieve this, such as design thinking, mentoring, and simulations that train skills with challenges close to real-world scenarios.

“Encouraging entrepreneurial thinking and teaching entrepreneurship in the workplace is a cultural issue. You can't give a one-day course on initiative and then expect people to just take it to work. You need to create the right environment. You need to encourage people to be creative, to try new things.” — commented Chris Russell, senior regulatory manager at the Federation of Small Businesses in London.

💡Interesting Stats: 80% of the surveyed executives emphasized that enhancing organizational entrepreneurial thinking among employees is one of their top priorities.

To create the conditions for entrepreneurial learning, experts recommend developing a learning culture in the company and considering a skills audit to adjust the employee training plan. And also – to encourage learning outside of work, in their free time, and the interests of the employees themselves.

#10. Metaverses

Learning in metaverses, unlike generative AI, is one of the learning and development trends that is not of the present. This is the future of corporate training. The fact is that not all technologies necessary for using metaverses in mass access are currently developed and widely available.

However, experts suggest that this is a very promising direction, and it will “shoot” in the coming years – probably as quickly as AI “shot” before our eyes. In the corporate sector, the possible use of metaverses is being actively discussed, and VR in particular is already being successfully used by large corporations, like Bank of America. So it’s a good idea to prepare now:

• If metaverses have still remained a distant and unknown topic for you and seemed like some kind of fantasy, then you should finally try augmented reality helmets and glasses to understand what they are all about, how they work, and how they can be useful.
• Develop an eye for new technologies so that the introduction of metaverses into practice doesn’t take you by surprise. Read the news on the topic, and try to attend specialized conferences.
• Work with your internal resistance to new technologies, they can no longer be canceled, and help your colleagues work with these fears. Your knowledge of such technologies, if you follow their development, will help in this.

💡Interesting Stats: According to the National Training Laboratory, learners engaged in virtual reality (VR) training retained information at a remarkable rate of 75%, in contrast to just 10% retention through traditional lectures.

Final Thought

In 2024, despite all the changes happening around us, companies are still focused on developing their people. Employees are also super interested in training because it opens up chances for career growth, both up and sideways.

Adapting to the ever-changing world is impossible without good training. So, keep up with the latest corporate training trends and invest in your employees'😉.