39 Statistics that Prove the Value of Employee Training

Posted on 03/03/26 By Lorman Team

It goes without saying that employee training is beneficial for organizations of any size, but to what extent?

A strong training and development program can have numerous short- and long-term benefits, including increasing employee engagement and retention rates, encouraging innovative thinking, mitigating risks, and giving your organization a competitive edge.

Still not convinced? These 39 statistics on training and development will change your mind.

JUMP AHEAD
» Employee training statistics
» Training and retention statistics
» Leadership training statistics
» Compliance training statistics
» Online training statistics

Training Statistics for 2026

Industry trends, regulations, and in-demand skills are always changing. If you neglect your employees’ training and development, you’re putting your company’s future success at risk.

In 2026, every organization should take time to assess their employee training needs, find an effective solution, and implement a learning strategy from start to finish.

Employee training statistics

Employees value training opportunities just as much, if not more, than their employers. The modern professional knows the recipe for a successful career is ongoing learning and growth, yet companies often fail to provide their employees with the proper tools for development.

The following statistics demonstrate the importance of proper job training to today’s workforce.

• Companies with comprehensive employee training programs report 218% higher income per employee compared to those without formalized training.
• Organizations providing the training employees need are 17% more productive and 21% more profitable overall.
• 59% of employees believe training directly improves their job performance.
• 92% of employees say well-planned training programs positively impact their job engagement.
• 68% of employees prefer to learn and train while at work.
• 70% of employee skills are learned on the job.
• 84% of employees say learning gives their work more purpose.
• U.S. training expenditures rose to $102.8 billion in 2025, up 4.9% from 2024.
• Organizations spent an average of $1,254 per employee on learning in 2024 (with similar trends into 2025).
• The global workplace training market reached $401 billion in 2024 (with continued growth projected).
• 50% of the workforce completed training as part of long-term learning strategies in 2025, up from 41% in 2023.

Training and retention statistics

Employees value learning and development opportunities, so it’s no surprise that workers are more likely to stay at companies that invest in their continued education. Organizations with successful training programs typically see a significant increase in employee retention.

Turnover is costly, and most businesses can’t afford to lose their top-performing employees.

• 88% of organizations are concerned about employee retention, and providing learning opportunities ranks as the No. 1 retention strategy.
• Companies with a strong learning culture achieve a 57% retention rate, roughly double the 27% rate for companies with only a moderate learning culture.
• 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company that invests in their continued learning and development (consistent across recent LinkedIn reports).
• 70% of Gen Z and 59% of Millennials seek opportunities to advance their skills at least once a week, with many investing in development outside work.
• Companies with strong onboarding processes (which often include initial training) can see new-hire retention increases of up to 82%, while poor onboarding contributes to high early turnover (e.g., 20-30% of new hires leaving within 90 days in some reports).
• Organizations prioritizing learning and development report higher internal mobility, engaged learners, and better overall retention metrics.

Leadership training statistics

Leadership is one of the most in-demand workplace skills. Employees who have received leadership training also have better teamwork skills and are more prepared to progress to higher positions. Not only does training help prepare junior staff for the future, but it also ensures tenured managers are actively working to enhance their leadership skills.

These statistics show why leadership training is essential to employee development programs.

• 56% of managers report having no training at all.
• 60% of new or first-time managers fail within their first 24 months.
• Manager training cuts active disengagement in half and boosts thriving levels from 28% to 34%.
• 41% of human resources managers consider training and development essential to business.
• 86% of Gen Z and 84% of millennials emphasize the need for mentorship and guidance from managers to support their development
  
  

Compliance training statistics

Compliance training helps create a safer workplace and minimizes the risk of legal action. Common compliance training topics include anti-harassment, diversity, ethics, data protection and privacy, cybersecurity, and workplace safety.

Every employee should complete compliance training in order to maintain a safe and productive working environment. Here are some training statistics about workplace compliance you need to know.

• 37% of organizations have no formal compliance training plan.
• 31% of companies have an advanced compliance and ethics training program.
• 40% of companies rate their compliance programs as basic or reactive.
• Only 70% of organizations attempt to measure the effectiveness of their compliance program.
• The average annual cost from companies that experience non-compliance issues is about $14.82 million.
  
  

Online training statistics

It’s not news that the world is becoming increasingly digital. Online training is more accessible for employees, provides a broader range of learning topics, and helps lower overall company training costs. Moving corporate training online is especially imperative for companies that allow remote work.

The following training industry statistics showcase the importance of providing relevant and accessible online learning.

• 89% of employees want training available anywhere and anytime they need to do their job.
• 85% of employees want to choose training times that fit their schedule.
• 93% of employees want easy-to-complete training; 91% want their training to be personalized and relevant.
• 76% of employees believe their companies should provide more digital skills training; only 44% said their employers currently do so.
• 90% of employers agree it’s beneficial to switch to mobile-based training.
• 33% of U.S. workers say their current company-provided training doesn’t meet their expectations.
• 1 in 3 employees say their organization’s training is out-of-date.

Set Your Company Up for Success

As we move through 2026, you can expect organizations to put a heavier focus on employee training and development. Companies need to be prepared to supply quality training content to employees at all levels of business as regulations continue to change and remote work becomes more ubiquitous.

Request a free demo to learn how Lorman can take your employee training to the next level.