The COVID-19 pandemic drastically shifted the landscape for work and learning in 2020, and although a vaccine is on the horizon, those changes will have lasting effects on the working world moving forward. Many of the trends that arose in 2020 will continue to be prominent throughout 2021, as well as several new needs that will arise as companies work to build out the “new normal” for the workplace post-pandemic. Here are our top 6 predictions for important learning and development trends for 2021.

1. Prominence of e-Learning

It should come as no surprise that e-learning will continue to be essential to training in 2021. The necessity to work from home during the pandemic has shown that many companies do not need their employees in the office fulltime, or even at all. This realization has permanently changed the working landscape, with many organizations deciding not to fully go back to in-person work. With more employees working from home moving forward, there will still be a considerable need for e-learning.

2. Cyber Security Training

With the shift of most workplaces to remote work during the pandemic, cyber security has become a greater need for companies and their teams. Moving work outside of the office means employees are now no longer working on their company’s secure networks and are instead using more vulnerable home internet. Since remote work will remain popular, organizations must examine the gaps in their security and find ways to address those issues. As a result, cyber security training will continue to be a major demand.

3. Stronger Focus on Soft Skills

As people are learning to navigate the intricacies of working remotely and trying to manage the anxiety of living in isolation during a pandemic, soft skills training will become even more necessary. Remote work is a new landscape for many employees, so providing specific training on how to communicate and collaborate effectively online will be crucial to their success. Providing learning for stress and time management will be increasingly important as employees have to juggle more responsibilities and priorities while working from home. 

4. Need for Upskilling and Reskilling

The shift to working remotely has exposed a number of skills gaps in the workforce, and those holes will only grow if not addressed properly. Employee evaluation will play a major role in helping to identify the gaps in each organization. Once employers can pinpoint those holes, they should increase their focus on upskilling and reskilling to address those needs. This will ensure that employees are adjusting to the shifting trends in their industries and are set up for success in the new year.

5. Importance of Data Literacy

As technology and reporting tools continue to advance, it has become increasingly important for employees to not only understand the data that they are working with, but to know how to manipulate and analyze that data on a deeper level. Employers are putting a premium on skills like data visualization, interpretation, and analysis as data driven insights become more critical to success. The next year should continue to see an increase in business intelligence and analysis training to address the growing need for data literate employees and teams.

6. Personalized Learning

Since specialized skills are only going to become more necessary in 2021 and beyond, there will be an increased need for personalized learning to teach employees those skills. While pre-made e-learning can help to provide generalized education for staff, more targeted learning will be required to teach the specific skills to employees. Whether it is creating customized in-house learning or utilizing artificial intelligence to adapt training to each learner’s needs, more tailored learning will be essential to employee success in 2021.

The working world will continue to evolve, so it’s important that companies adapt their training to address those changes accordingly. Remaining flexible and being able to pivot to develop employees’ soft skills will play a major role in organizational success throughout 2021. The main takeaway is: training is more vital than ever!