Have you noticed what appears to be a growing number of high-level positions across industries focused on “employee development?”.
Some recent examples include – Deputy Director positions in state government focused on education and learning, Vice President positions in for-profit companies targeted towards talent growth and development, CEO positions across industries with employee learning strategies and succession planning as a visible part of the job.
A recent article by Gallup reported “record-breaking employee engagement”. Perhaps this indicates that organizations – private, public, for-profit, non-profit, etc. – are buying into the value of employee growth and development in relation to benefitting the bottom line. The following factors provide reasons why this positive trend appears to be growing:
More than ever – organizations are competing to attract and retain strong talent
According to the US Labor of Bureau Statistics, the national unemployment rate has been trending downward since 2010 and as of January 2020 was averaging 3.6%. US companies are vying for skilled talent – to attract and retain. One recent article indicates US talent shortages are at a 10-year high. Millennials value growth opportunities
There is growing awareness that Millennials love to learn and value professional development. The Millennial generation desires opportunities to learn and grow and want these experiences now. Be forewarned that if your organization won’t engage, someone else will.
At the moment, companies simply have the dollars to invest
This factoid seems to vary, depending on industry and company. It’s true that the US economy for 2020 is widely believed to appear healthy according to a variety of economic indicators. Given this, it is reasonable to speculate that the current economic optimism may result in better margins for business and a resulting re-investment by some back into employees.
There is a growing belief that employee well-being is beneficial to the bottom-line
For several years now, many employee development articles/research have been produced that indicate a correlation between employee training/development and productivity. In the hyper-competitive world in which we live, it makes sense for organizations to do whatever they can to thrive. This research is getting attention.
Whatever the reason for what appears to be a growing number of high-level employee learning and development positions – beyond what one might see in a traditional HR department – an investment in focused learning can produce very positive opportunities for employees.
And these positions are not fluff – they often require individuals with skills in research, assessment, design, technology, communication, and leadership. If this investment in employee growth is sincere and focused, organizations will contribute to the growth and thriving of individuals and teams and this in turn can immensely benefit the organizational culture and productivity. For organizations that maintain this kind of commitment to employees, even with any future downturn in the market, the evidence indicates they will benefit and the organization’s future is bright.
To exchange more ideas on the importance and value of investing in human potential, find me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-murray-jensen/.