Employers raise training spend to improve skills

Training budgets are set to rise as employers struggle to equip their staff with the skills to do their jobs, according to new research.

A survey of 68 HR managers and professionals across all industrial sectors, by Personnel Today’s sister publication IRS Employment Review, shows that more than a third of employers (35%) plan to increase their learning and development budgets in the next year. Just 12% are planning to spend less, while half expect to keep their budgets at the same level.

It shows nearly nine in 10 (87%) employers said that ensuring employee skills were up to scratch was a key training objective – reflecting the difficulties employers are encountering in finding the right people in a tight market environment.

Six in 10 employers also cited the need for training as a means of improving line managers’ people skills.

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Respondents said formal classroom training, one-to-one coaching and external conferences were the most successful teaching methods, but more than a third had concerns over the adequacy of training within their organisation.

www.irsemploymentreview.com, 020 8686 9141