US / Stats on Workplace Learning

Although formal training accounts for only a small percentage of learning, unless noted specifically, the stats here relate to formal training, meaning that managed by a training department, usually through classes or online education (elearning) programs.

From Training Magazine’s 2012 Training Industry Report (full download available for free):

Total 2012 U.S. training expenditures—including payroll and spending on external products and services—fell 6.5 percent to $55.8 billion.

After rebounding last year, the training industry hit a bump in the road in 2012 as it followed the downward economic trend that dogged the U.S.: Total 2012 U.S. training expenditures—including payroll and spending on external products and services—fell 6.5 percent to $55.8 billion, according to Training magazine’s 2012 Training Industry Report. Some 65 percent of organizations either saw their training budget remain the same or decrease in 2012. Training payroll increased substantially, from $31.3 billion to $36.4 billion, but spending on outside products and services decreased $1.7 billion to $7.4 billion.

From the ASTD 2012 State of the Industry (full report available to ASTD members, non-members for a fee):

More than $156 billion was spent by U.S. organizations on [formal] employee learning in 2012. 

ASTD estimates that U.S. organizations spent $1,182 per learner on employee learning and development in 2011. Of this total direct learning expenditure, 56 percent ($87.5 billion) was spent internally — such as staff salaries and internal development costs. The remainder was split between tuition reimbursement, which accounted for 14 percent ($21.9 billion), and external services comprising 30 percent ($46.9 billion).

The average direct expenditure per employee decreased in 2011 to $1,182 from a peak expenditure of $1,228 ($1,267 adjusted for inflation) in 2010. This is a 4 percent (7 percent inflation adjusted) decrease on direct expenditure per employee on L&D activities and infrastructure.

On average, employees clocked 31 hours of training in 2011, which is about one hour less than 2010 and six fewer hours than a peak of 37 hours in 2007. However, it is five hours more than employees were using 10 years ago.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at 

via Stats on Workplace Learning.