ATD Research: Frontline Employee Training Remains Critical in Organizations

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[Alexandria, VA], January 30, 2025 —New research by the Association for Talent Development (ATD)revealed that 75 percent of organizations use on-the-job coaching by managers to train its frontline employees.

[Alexandria, VA], January 30, 2025—New research by the Association for Talent Development (ATD)revealed that 75 percent of organizations use on-the-job coaching by managers to train its frontline employees.

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While on-the-job coaching was the most popular form of on-the-job training, job shadowing, employee knowledge sharing, and on-the-job coaching by peers also were popular training methods for frontline employee training. These methods were used to build employee technical and hard skills, retain and pass along institutional knowledge, and familiarize employees with the industry.

While on-the-job coaching was the most popular form of on-the-job training, job shadowing, employee knowledge sharing, and on-the-job coaching by peers also were popular training methods for frontline employee training. These methods were used to build employee technical and hard skills, retain and pass along institutional knowledge, and familiarize employees with the industry.

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Key findings from Frontline Employees: Addressing Training Needs for Critical Workers , sponsored by Axonify , include:

Key findings from Frontline Employees: Addressing Training Needs for Critical Workers, sponsored by Axonify, include:

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  Almost all organizations use on-the-job training to build employees’ technical or hard skills, such as coaching by managers, job shadowing, and knowledge sharing.

  Almost all organizations use on-the-job training to build employees’ technical or hard skills, such as coaching by managers, job shadowing, and knowledge sharing.

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  Nearly two-thirds of organizations measure the impact of their training efforts for frontline employees on business goals. Organizations that don’t measure impact commonly report that they don’t have the right tools or lack resources such as budget and time.

  Nearly two-thirds of organizations measure the impact of their training efforts for frontline employees on business goals. Organizations that don’t measure impact commonly report that they don’t have the right tools or lack resources such as budget and time.

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  Nearly three-quarters of organizations cite high employee turnover as a challenge they face in providing training to frontline employees. While 80 percent of those organizations think they can overcome the challenge, nearly half do not know how to do so.

  Nearly three-quarters of organizations cite high employee turnover as a challenge they face in providing training to frontline employees. While 80 percent of those organizations think they can overcome the challenge, nearly half do not know how to do so.

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  Eighty-four percent of organizations do not currently use AI-enabled training with their frontline employees. The most common reason is that they lack staff with the right knowledge to implement AI-enabled training.

  Eighty-four percent of organizations do not currently use AI-enabled training with their frontline employees. The most common reason is that they lack staff with the right knowledge to implement AI-enabled training.

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Talent development professionals need to “start engaging with generative AI—even if it’s at a rudimentary level,” the report recommends.

Talent development professionals need to “start engaging with generative AI—even if it’s at a rudimentary level,” the report recommends.

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ATD surveyed 334 talent development professionals about how their organizations deliver training to frontline employees, what their learning and business goals are, and what challenges they face in delivering training to frontline employees.

ATD surveyed 334 talent development professionals about how their organizations deliver training to frontline employees, what their learning and business goals are, and what challenges they face in delivering training to frontline employees.

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ATD is hosting a free webinar about the report on February 20 at 2 p.m. ET.

ATD is hosting a free webinar about the report on February 20 at 2 p.m. ET.

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About ATD

About ATD

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The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is the world’s largest professional membership organization supporting those who develop the knowledge and skills of employees, improve performance, and help to achieve results for the organizations they serve. Established in 1943, the association was previously known as the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).

The Association for Talent Development (ATD) is the world’s largest professional membership organization supporting those who develop the knowledge and skills of employees, improve performance, and help to achieve results for the organizations they serve. Established in 1943, the association was previously known as the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).

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ATD’s members come from more than 100 countries and work in public and private organizations in every industry sector. ATD supports TD professionals who gather locally in volunteer-led US chapters and international member networks and with international strategic partners.

ATD’s members come from more than 100 countries and work in public and private organizations in every industry sector. ATD supports TD professionals who gather locally in volunteer-led US chapters and international member networks and with international strategic partners.

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For more information, visit td.org .

For more information, visit td.org.