By Gary Dawson
Source: ATD 2026 State of the Industry: Talent Development Benchmarks and Trends (data reflects 2025 organizational survey responses). Published May 2026.
If you’ve been wondering whether your organization’s training approach is in sync with the rest of the country — the Association for Talent Development (ATD) just handed you a mirror. The 2026 State of the Industry report, drawing on data from 340 organizations, paints a revealing picture of what employees are learning and, just as importantly, how they’re being taught. The findings might surprise you.
What’s Being Taught: The Essentials Still Lead
Mandatory and compliance training remains nearly universal: 95% of organizations offer it, and that number hasn’t budged. New-employee orientation (93%) and IT and systems training (84%) round out the top three. These are your table-stakes programs, and they’re clearly here to stay.
But look a little further down the list and the story gets more interesting. Managerial and supervisory training is offered by 88% of organizations, a figure that reflects a growing consensus that your managers are the single greatest driver of employee performance and retention. Communication skills training (78%) and teamwork training (73%) are also broadly offered, signaling that employers aren’t just chasing technical know-how; they’re investing in the human skills that hold teams together.
The AI training picture tells a nuanced story. Practical AI skills, prompt writing, problem-solving with AI tools, and AI ethics are now offered by 55% of organizations, compared to just 45% for more technical AI topics. The message is clear: employers are prioritizing fluency over deep technical expertise. Workers who can use AI intelligently will be more valuable than those who can only build it.
How It’s Being Delivered: Live Is Back — in Both Forms
Here’s the headline: 83% of organizations are now using both live, in-person instructor-led classrooms AND live virtual classrooms, a dramatic rebound from 2024, when only 61% used in-person and 58% used virtual. Organizations aren’t choosing between the two; they’re embracing both.
Asynchronous e-learning (76%) and blended learning (66%) also remain popular, offering flexibility for today’s distributed workforce. But the resurgence of live, synchronous learning — in any format — suggests that employees and employers alike recognize something that years of e-learning never quite solved: connection, dialogue, and real-time feedback matter.
On-the-job learning is also thriving. Job aids are used by 83% of organizations, coaching by 71%, and stretch assignments by 68%. These aren’t passive learning moments; they’re deliberate development woven into daily work.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. EANE’s Learning & Development team works alongside your organization to design and implement learning strategies that are practical, purposeful, and built around your people.
Take the first step, connect with Gary Dawson at [email protected].