New Research Reveals Critical Gaps in Employee Career Development Programs

A new research report from HR.com reveals that employee career development programs are falling short across many organizations, with only 20% of companies reaching the top two levels of program maturity. The study highlights significant gaps in career development and internal mobility efforts, with just 37% of organizations considering themselves effective in career development and only 42% reporting success in internal mobility initiatives. These findings underscore a critical need for organizations to prioritize career growth initiatives as employee expectations continue to rise.

The research reveals that a mere 22% of organizations offer enough employee development opportunities to keep up with workforce demands. Managers can play a pivotal role in fostering employee career development, with 54% of organizations reporting that managers are encouraged to help employees develop their careers. However, the study identifies concerning gaps in manager readiness and motivation, including 34% of organizations where managers actively discourage internal movement to retain high performers.

Only 15% of companies have managers equipped with the necessary skills to develop employees, and just 10% of organizations recognize and reward managers for developing their direct reports. The full research report, available for free download at https://hr.com/hrresearchinstitute, provides detailed insights into today's employee development and training programs. The recording of the research webcast presentation is also available for viewing on demand, offering actionable recommendations for HR professionals looking to strengthen their career development strategies.