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Employer-Sponsored Professional Development: Investing Today for a Stronger Workforce Tomorrow

Research Report

Employer-Sponsored Professional Development: Investing Today for a Stronger Workforce Tomorrow

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Employer-Sponsored Professional Development: Investing Today for a Stronger Workforce Tomorrow
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Organizations have become increasingly aware that ongoing skill development is critical for employees as business strategies, roles, and expectations change. In ATD’s 2026 State of the Industry report, TD professionals shared that their top priority for the coming year was bridging employee skills gaps. One of the ways organizations can address these gaps is by sponsoring employee professional development.

Organizations have become increasingly aware that ongoing skill development is critical for employees as business strategies, roles, and expectations change. In ATD’s 2026 State of the Industry report, TD professionals shared that their top priority for the coming year was bridging employee skills gaps. One of the ways organizations can address these gaps is by sponsoring employee professional development.

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In Employer-Sponsored Professional Development: Investing Today for a Stronger Workforce Tomorrow , ATD Research examines what professional development opportunities organizations support, how they fund those opportunities, and the impact of professional development on organizations. The study also explores learners’ participation in and expectations for professional development. ATD Research surveyed 333 talent development (TD) professionals and 1,035 working Americans (learners).

In Employer-Sponsored Professional Development: Investing Today for a Stronger Workforce Tomorrow, ATD Research examines what professional development opportunities organizations support, how they fund those opportunities, and the impact of professional development on organizations. The study also explores learners’ participation in and expectations for professional development. ATD Research surveyed 333 talent development (TD) professionals and 1,035 working Americans (learners).

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Some key findings from this study include:

Some key findings from this study include:

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    Organizations sponsor a variety of professional development opportunities. Conference attendance, licensure or certification, and formal classroom training are the most common.

    Organizations sponsor a variety of professional development opportunities. Conference attendance, licensure or certification, and formal classroom training are the most common.

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    Organizations are most likely to provide full financial support for online-learning subscriptions, formal classroom training, and conference attendance. They tend to provide partial financial support for higher education.

    Organizations are most likely to provide full financial support for online-learning subscriptions, formal classroom training, and conference attendance. They tend to provide partial financial support for higher education.

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    Learners rate their employer’s professional development support with nearly 4 out of 5 stars, on average.

    Learners rate their employer’s professional development support with nearly 4 out of 5 stars, on average.

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    Eighty-six percent of learners have participated in employer-sponsored professional development. They are most likely to participate in conference attendance, online-learning subscriptions, and formal classroom training.

    Eighty-six percent of learners have participated in employer-sponsored professional development. They are most likely to participate in conference attendance, online-learning subscriptions, and formal classroom training.

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Would you like a complimentary copy of this report? Join ATD today to receive this report and all other ATD research reports as a member benefit. We’d be delighted to welcome you to ATD!

Would you like a complimentary copy of this report? Join ATD today to receive this report and all other ATD research reports as a member benefit. We’d be delighted to welcome you to ATD!

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Book Details

Book Details

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    ISBN: 9781970514711

    ISBN: 9781970514711

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    Pages: 20

    Pages: 20

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    Publication Date: August 2026

    Publication Date: August 2026

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    Formats: PDF

    Formats: PDF

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    Product Code: 792608

    Product Code: 792608

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About the Authors

ATD Research

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ATD Research tracks trends, informs decisions, and connects research to performance. By providing comprehensive data and insightful analysis, ATD Research Reports help business leaders and workplace learning and performance professionals understand and more effectively respond to today's fast-paced workplace learning and development industry. Our research reports offer an empirical foundation for today's data-driven decision-makers, containing both quantitative and qualitative analysis about organizational learning, human capital management, training, and performance.

ATD Research tracks trends, informs decisions, and connects research to performance. By providing comprehensive data and insightful analysis, ATD Research Reports help business leaders and workplace learning and performance professionals understand and more effectively respond to today's fast-paced workplace learning and development industry. Our research reports offer an empirical foundation for today's data-driven decision-makers, containing both quantitative and qualitative analysis about organizational learning, human capital management, training, and performance.


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