With so many new technologies emerging every year, the way we learn and develop skills needs to evolve too. While we see some learning and development trends year after year, changes also bring new and exciting tools and tech to try.
Returning to the office following the COVID-19 pandemic, quiet quitting and differences in working generations affect how we upskill and reskill employees. Now, we can personalize learning and do things much more efficiently.
Upskilling and reskilling are more in demand than ever, so here are some of the latest trends we’re predicting for 2024.
Personalized learning paths are a rising trend in public sector organizations in 2024. The cookie-cutter approach to training no longer works as well. Technology like AI and data analytics are personalizing our experiences on social media and nearly every aspect of digital life.
HR professionals have the tools to create a more holistic learning vision for agencies that align with employees’:
Personalized learning makes it easier for workers to find the content they need to enhance their skills and learn new ones. This type of education aligns your employees’ ideal career paths with organizational goals while encouraging engagement.
Elective learning trends fail to motivate due to the uninspiring nature of traditional teaching methods, discouraging participation in non-mandatory education. Microlearning uses short, focused learning lessons that employees can easily fit into their busy lives and schedules.
This type of learning is also known to increase productivity as employees can reskill or upskill quickly and perform more efficiently at work. Microlearning also makes it easier to retain knowledge. Plus, workers feel more inspired to learn as they see results faster.
Lifelong and continuous learning through collaborative projects, social learning and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing is still one of the latest learning and development trends. These methods foster teamwork and communication and enhance problem-solving skills. They show that irreplaceable human skills are still vital for success.
Today, organizations can use web-based software programs for collaborative learning designed to accommodate an organization’s unique training needs. It allows employees and supervisors or mentors to interact online in real time to work toward personal and agency goals.
This method of learning improves employee engagement and fosters a culture of continuous learning.
Younger generations just entering the workforce have very different ideas of how to interact with others than older generations. They’ve grown up with smartphones and computer technology that older workers didn’t, so analytical and soft skills training are more necessary now than ever.
It’s important to level up skills like:
These competencies help employees deal with emotions and confrontations in the workplace. Soft skills also teach them how to connect with others, get along better with peers and promote professional in-person interactions.
We predict that the soft skills gap will highlight the need to refocus on the areas in which technology isn’t helpful, like the need for better communication skills. Over time, social distancing and technology have distanced us from the human skills necessary for success.
As this gap has become more noticeable now, soft and analytical skills will be more important than ever in 2024.
New technologies provide better tools to facilitate learning, like virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR). This type of training involves virtual scenarios and realistic training simulations. Many organizations have already been doing this to a certain extent (think law enforcement driving and shooting simulations).
Simulating real-life environments that people will work in is as close to learning on the job without sending people out untrained. Organizations can implement VR/AR training across many sectors. However, it's the safest option for positions where employees work in dangerous situations.
Many private-sector companies are already using this method of training. Surveys have shown that 97% of employees who have learned this way felt prepared to do their jobs.
It’s perfect for virtual and hybrid workspaces, where remote instructors can observe students' work and collaborate on problem-solving.
These emerging trends in learning and development promote a better tomorrow for organizations. Evolving technologies pave the way for more innovative educational solutions. Personalized learning paths and microlearning allow employees to learn in ways that work better for them using shorter, focused lessons.
Soft skills are more important than ever as younger generations of workers grew up behind technology older generations didn’t have. Using VR/AR and collaborative learning platforms allows organizations to use technology to their advantage and meet their unique training needs.
DOWNLOADCPS HR Consulting is a self-supporting public agency providing a full range of integrated HR solutions to government and nonprofit clients across the country. Our strategic approach to increasing the effectiveness of human resources results in improved organizational performance for our clients. We have a deep expertise and unmatched perspective in guiding our clients in the areas of organizational strategy, recruitment and selection, classification and compensation, and training and development.
.png)
