Dive Brief:

• Employer-provided training programs can improve employee effectiveness and help limit mistakes on the job for a majority of American workers, according to the newly released results of an American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor survey, conducted online by Harris Poll.

• The ASA survey found that 67% of working adults say they received adequate training when first hired, but 61% also say they could be more effective in their jobs if their employer offered additional training. Also, 60% of the 1,008 U.S workers polled say a majority of mistakes on the job are due to a lack of training.

• The survey found that training influences advancement in the workplace, as 55% say they think they could advance professionally if they were offered greater training opportunities, and the percentage is even higher for millennials (62%) and Gen X (58%) respectively.

Dive Insight:

U.S. employers across all industry sectors are facing skills gap challenges and talent shortages, threatening productivity and profitability. The ASA Workforce Monitor survey results indicate that training truly matters to employees and job seekers alike.

And while these survey results may not surprise HR leaders, they reinforce the notion that learning is a critical component in not only meeting the skills gap challenge, but also in attracting, engaging and retaining talent. From on-demand learning to on the job learning, offering workers effective learning and training programs is essential for HR success, and by extension, business strategy success.