Training Shortcuts Gain Popularity

Employers spend a lot of time and money training employees every year. According to Statista, a data-gathering and visualization platform, the total US expenditure on workplace training climbed to $101.8 billion in 2023. Despite that investment, per the 2025 State of Workplace Learning Report from Moodle, 25 percent of employees find training ineffective and not worth their time and that it inadequately prepares them for their roles.

Moodle reports that more than half of US employees use artificial-intelligence-related tools to complete mandatory work training. Individuals said they use such tools to answer difficult questions; help with certain parts of questions; and take entire training courses. Half of survey respondents also use non-AI-related cheats such as speeding up videos to more quickly complete training or allowing training videos to play while they multitask. Additionally, 14 percent of workers admitted to muting their laptops and clicking through questions without participating.

To ensure learners don't use shortcuts and to make the training initiative more effective, employers can design more flexible, personalized, and accessible training content at all levels.

For instance, a 2023 CYPHER Learning study found that nine in 10 business owners and C-suite executives experienced flexible training options, such as when, where, and how they completed training courses, compared to just three in 10 entry-level employees. As a result, the executives were more likely to describe their training as "inspiring" or enjoyable" than their counterparts.

Skipping through important training content is a symptom of a larger problem: burnout.

"American workers across most industries are struggling—especially young employees. Burnout rates are high and the threat of AI is triggering significant fear about their relevance at work," says Moodle CEO Scott Anderberg in a press release.

If organizations want employees to get the most out of training, they have to give them the bandwidth to do so. "High rates of burnout amongst younger generations provide an opportunity for companies to reprioritize employee wellbeing, offer meaningful professional development opportunities and enforce healthy work-life balance," writes Martha Karmali in an article about Moodle's report.