2016 State of the Industry

Spending on learning programs continued to be a priority for organizations in 2015, according to the Association for Talent Development’s 2016 State of the Industry report, which is sponsored by The Training Associates and Bellevue University. A total of 310 organizations representing a diverse range of industries, sizes, and locations participated in this year’s benchmarking study.

On average, organizations spent a healthy $1,252 per employee in 2015 on direct learning expenditures. This figure captures the design, administration, and delivery costs associated with learning programs, including the salaries of talent development staff. The increased investment was accompanied by learners receiving more learning hours and efficient distribution of content and offerings across workforces.

Recognizing that these formal learning hours do not capture the valuable development experiences that are embedded in daily work, this year the State of the Industry added a snapshot of on-the-job learning activities in 2015.