Dive Brief:

• U.S. workers hunger for learning opportunities because employers aren't providing enough of them, according to a report by City & Guilds Group. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said they want a bigger focus on L&D in their workplaces. Only 46% said their employers have provided on-the-job training in the past year, and only 52% said it's easy to access L&D at their jobs.
• The majority of employees (82%) said they feel "fairly well equipped" to do their current jobs, but 63% want a heavier focus on training.
• Many American workers aren't waiting on their employers to upskill them. A majority of workers, 62%, have invested personal time in training during the past year, with 30% paying for training out of pocket.

Dive Insight:

The survey results from the City & Guilds Group report point to a larger tension between workers' and employers' attitudes toward L&D.

Employees want training opportunities, but employers do not want to pay for them. Employers should reconsider their position, according to Ellie Bertani, director of HR strategy and innovation at Walmart. "I believe business needs to stop looking at employees as a cost center and realize they are an investment. Training them is an investment that will pay dividends in the future," she previously told HR Dive.

If employers take Bertani's cue, they may consider expanding or overhauling their current L&D programs, if they exist at all. Employers will want to assess their businesses and employees to determine training needs and pinpoint specific training outcomes, experts previously told HR Dive. It's worth noting that employees, especially the younger ones, prefer using mobile apps and online learning tools to complete work-related L&D, according to Kahoot's annual EdTrends Report for Corporate Trainers. Members of Gen Z, in particular, like to participate in gamified learning.