Employers spent on average $889 per employee
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Canadian employers are investing more in the learning and development of their workers and are fast catching up with their US counterparts, the Conference Board of Canada’s latest study said.
Employers spent on average $889 per employee on L&D in the 2016-17 period, an increase of $89 from the previous year, according to the latest Learning and Development Outlook of the board.
The average Canadian employee spent an average of 32 hours learning in the same period, compared to just 25 hours the year before.
“The trend….indicates more than a renewed confidence in the Canadian economy, it is the result of organizations having both the capacity to invest in learning, and the knowledge of where that investment should go," said Colin Hall, associate director for organizational excellence of the board.
"Organizations that invest in employee learning and development understand the importance of maintaining a strong knowledge-based workforce and keeping pace with dynamic, volatile, and ever-changing business environments,” said Hall.
Canadian firms are now spending an average of 81 cents per dollar spent by American companies – an increase of 57 cents since 2006. The gap has narrowed because of Canadians’ higher L&D investment and Americans’ reduced spending.
Other highlights include:
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Employers spent on average $889 per employee on L&D in the 2016-17 period, an increase of $89 from the previous year, according to the latest Learning and Development Outlook of the board.
The average Canadian employee spent an average of 32 hours learning in the same period, compared to just 25 hours the year before.
“The trend….indicates more than a renewed confidence in the Canadian economy, it is the result of organizations having both the capacity to invest in learning, and the knowledge of where that investment should go," said Colin Hall, associate director for organizational excellence of the board.
"Organizations that invest in employee learning and development understand the importance of maintaining a strong knowledge-based workforce and keeping pace with dynamic, volatile, and ever-changing business environments,” said Hall.
Canadian firms are now spending an average of 81 cents per dollar spent by American companies – an increase of 57 cents since 2006. The gap has narrowed because of Canadians’ higher L&D investment and Americans’ reduced spending.
Other highlights include:
- 50% of the 127 Canadian organizations surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that learning is a top organizational priority for them.
- Companies with strong learning cultures show better organizational performance in terms of employee engagement, customer satisfaction, overall productivity, and overall leadership performance compared to those with weak learning cultures.
- Instructor-led classroom learning is most common method for learning, but it is becoming less prevalent. Self-paced and informal learning, through online courses, for instance, are on the rise.
- Still, despite the priority placed on learning, 58% of firms have experienced recent business challenges that have directly affected their learning and development strategies or budgets.
Related stories:
Will religious training be the next L&D trend?
How simulations bring L&D to life