While U.S. investment in learning and development increased during the past year, as revealed by ASTD’s 2011 State of the Industry Report (SOIR), the United Kingdom saw training budgets decrease. This according to the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) 2011 Learning and Talent Development Survey.

According to The Guardian, “Of the 601 organisations polled, 78% of public sector managers said they had less money to spend on training budgets in 2011 than the previous year – and the same percentage believed this budget would fall further in 2012.” In addition, the CIPD survey reveals that two-fifths of organizations reported that funds available for learning and development has decreased over the past 12 months.

The SOIR indicates that in the United States the average amount spent per employee on learning and development activities and infrastructure increased by 13 percent from 2010 to 2011.

Related reading from T+D:

The 2011 State of the Industry: Increased Commitment to Workplace Learning