Since the pandemic, looking back, we have come a long way from the way things used to be. In more recent times, unpredictability has become the new normal. Trends are quick to emerge and be dismissed. In such a rapidly changing landscape, whoever masters adaptability is bound to survive. This is especially true for organizations, which must master these new trends in order to maintain a competitive edge.

Following the pandemic, new workplace learning trends have been the most important to keep up with. Organizations that put their employees’ training and education at the forefront have benefited from this immensely. Others have had to face the perils of the great resignation. In a survey, almost 70% of US workers plan to leave their jobs in 2023. To avoid this, companies must stay abreast of the latest workplace learning trends and aim to keep their turnover low.

Keeping that in mind, we have compiled a list of workplace learning trends to be considered by HR leaders of today.

Power Skills

In a dynamic labor market, the kind of technical skills in vogue keeps changing dramatically. What stays constant are transferable skills, that would be needed by all employees, no matter what their designation is. These so-called soft skills, or as they are now referred to as power skills, are the latest workplace learning trend that has caught the attention of HR professionals.  

These skills range from leadership training to critical thinking and even team building. Training employees in these skills ensure that not only are they receiving lifelong learning that stays with them wherever they go but also helps the company function more effectively. Lessons on diversity and inclusion also ensure companies are keeping up with the times they’re in. A resulting well-trained workforce can take up new challenges in the rapidly changing corporate world head-on.

Upskilling and Reskilling 

Of course, there is no denying the importance of learning technical skills either. In fact, in the post-pandemic world, one of the biggest trends to emerge in workplace learning is training the workforce in technical skills. It is virtually impossible for employees, no matter what role they’re in, to function without technical expertise. This is where upskilling and reskilling come in.

Upskilling involves building up additional skills on top of an employee’s expertise. Reskilling means training an employee in a completely new job skill. In the current landscape, these skills are mostly technical in nature. This means that an organization can fully tap into its employees’ potential and ensure their personal growth at the same time. The resulting customer satisfaction is also a major reason why reskilling and upskilling are some of the most prominent workplace learning trends of this year.

Cross-Training 

One efficient way to make full use of the workforce is by encouraging them to cross-train across various departments. This especially comes in handy when budgets are tight or employees are low in number. Having individuals in different departments learn each other’s skills and competencies helps them see the bigger picture and understand how the company works as a whole.

Not limiting employees to their current designation means many can discover new skills they might be good at. It also means that employers can use their workforce skillfully amidst the Great Resignation. This workplace learning trend is mutually beneficial to all parties involved and is, therefore, a trend predicted to gain even more popularity.

Instructional Design

A great deal of emphasis has lately been placed on the importance of a good instructional design in online learning. Organizations benefit from courses that are thoughtfully designed to promote engaging and effective workplace learning. With the right approach to eLearning, employees can retain information better and are more likely to apply it practically. Hence, just having employee training is not enough, it is imperative to make it thoughtful.

Accessibility

Perhaps the best thing eLearning has brought to the world is increased accessibility. In the past, people with learning disabilities would struggle to take in new training and concepts and were unable to apply them effectively at work. Now, with online learning, it is possible to design courses in a way that makes learning easy for everyone. 

The range that authors have when designing courses these days is unparalleled. Different iterations of the same course can be made for different types of audiences. Employees approach workplace learning in different ways and an organization must make their content easy to follow for all people in order to foster inclusivity.

Flexible Learning Options

A huge lesson that the pandemic has taught us is the value of having flexibility in terms of work hours and location. With the hybrid working model, companies have found that employee productivity is higher, as is their morale. The work-from-home option is so ingrained in the corporate world now that it is hard to imagine an organization without it. And with a hybrid workforce comes the need to have hybrid training options. 

Hybrid workplace learning means that employees have a choice on how they choose to participate. Many prefer learning online, from the comfort of their homes, while others prefer a more blended approach. On top of that, hybrid or blended, companies must invest in a mobile learning platform. In this way, training can be accessed anywhere, so that employees can learn on the go. 

Personalized Learning

Today, creating an out-of-the-box, homogenous training for all is a thing of the past. If an organization truly strives to impart knowledge to its employees, it must view each employee as an individual entity with its own unique learning methods. Therefore, personalized learning is a major trend that HR personnel must consider.

Increasing options to personalize workplace learning means giving learners options to create or choose their own learning paths. This could mean scheduling modules in their preferred order or choosing a particular mode of learning. Assessments can also be given in a variety of ways, where steps can be added, eliminated, or tailored. Giving employees a say in their learning ensures better retention and a generally positive attitude towards training.

Microlearning

Very recently, microlearning has emerged as a buzzword in the online learning community. Microlearning is the concept of giving learners bite-size nuggets of information that can be easily assimilated. For effective training, it is crucial to not overwhelm the learners with too much information. In workplace learning, this trend is even more useful since employees only get so much time to dedicate to learning on top of their work. Additionally, if these learning tidbits are incorporated into a gamified learning experience, it is bound to make learning even more efficient.

Exploring the Metaverse

One of the relatively unexplored areas with tremendous potential is the incorporation of the metaverse in workplace learning. While the term may sound futuristic and too complicated to get used to, the reality is far from different. Training employees in the metaverse simply means incorporating virtual learning technologies into the existing learning framework. 

Depending on the nature of the work, many training lessons can be much more effective in a simulated environment that replicates the true working conditions. With the incorporation of these alternate technologies, employees would not just be excited to learn, they would learn more efficiently and accurately. In a bid to incorporate the latest workplace learning trends in the corporate world, the metaverse is not an option that can be taken lightly.

To Summarize

In some ways, workplace learning trends today are built-up on trends that emerged in the last couple of years. However, with time, these trends have developed in a way that suits both, employers and employees perfectly and has led to some of the most innovative uses of technology in learning. 

The concept of a hybrid, gamified, and microlearning-focused corporate LMS means that employees can approach training in a much more convenient way than ever before. Additionally, having opportunities to cross-train and upskill ensures their professional growth and reduces turnover.

Want to keep up with the latest tools for your workplace training program? Check out our blog on the hottest edTech tools of 2023!

Discover Edly’s Workplace Learning Solution

Edly provides the best online learning tools for corporate learning that can help you keep up with the latest trends. Edly’s workplace LMS platform comes equipped with the latest features that allow employees to focus on their learning and development, and ensure that organizations can track the progress and witness their employer brand strengthen. Book a free demo with us today to learn more about Edly’s corporate learning solution!