The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook. This week: Conferences, UK jobs wobble, visuals drive recall, schools fail teens and businesses, trust needs a C-suite boost, care workers burn out, and cyberattacks double. The future’s demanding, visual, and insecure. Are we prepared?
Training Journal announces 60th anniversary conference: empowering L&D to drive meaningful transformation
Training Journal marks 60 years with a one-day conference on Monday 24 November 2025 at the Royal Society of Chemistry, London. Designed for mid-to-senior L&D and HR leaders, the practical programme explores AI as an enabler, measurable impact and cross-functional collaboration. Only 60 tickets available and they are going fast.
Inmisceo announces Business of Training conference partnership with TK
Training Journal is once again joining us as the official media partner for The Business of Training Conference 2025. “The continuation of a relationship with a lot more history than these two years.” You can be part of this most practical and business-focused conference for training providers.
Generation conflicted: How do Gen Zers compare themselves to past generations?
They roast boomers for hoarding all the wealth and mock millennials for their skin-tight jeans, but what does Gen Z really think of the generations before them? EduBirdie surveyed 2,000 Gen Zers on their views of past generations, the state of the world, and whether they’re growing up at the right time in history. The results reveal that rather than disdain, most young people are secretly envious of those born before them.
- 40% insist they’re living through the worst period in human history, with 35% blaming boomers for the issues in modern society
- 60% of Gen Zers wish they were born to a different generation, with 46% envying millennials for growing up in a “normal” world
New Multiverse analysis reveals over two-thirds of people applying AI at work are in roles not traditionally associated with tech, challenging the narrow definition of ‘AI talent’
The UK’s artificial intelligence workforce is not confined to tech hubs and software developers, according to new jobs analysis from Multiverse, the upskilling platform for AI and tech adoption. Instead, an “invisible” AI workforce of nurses, librarians, surveyors, and doctors spread across the country are powering the UK’s burgeoning AI revolution.
12 million people in the UK are in ‘high-risk’ occupations projected to decline in the next ten years due to technological change, according to the National Foundation for Educational Research. Reskilling opportunities, particularly in light of the UK’s aging population, must therefore be evenly distributed across the workforce to ensure everyone can benefit from AI’s productivity promise.
UK employment hits lowest level in 13 years as rising labour costs dampen business confidence, report finds
Hiring confidence among UK employers has slumped to its lowest level since 2012, as businesses continue to grapple with rising labour costs and the April increase to employers’ national insurance contributions. These added expenses are causing companies to hold back on recruitment, according to BDO UK’s latest Business Trends report. Its employment index, which draws on data from more than 4,000 firms, fell from 94.32 in May to 94.22 last month. A score below 95 represents a contraction.
State of Visual Communication Report: The neuroscience behind why design-led companies win
State of Visual Communication Report reveals a striking truth: while some companies still debate the importance of visual communication, the most forward-thinking organisations are already seeing measurable ROI. And the reasons are as scientific as they are aesthetic: visually engaging content triggers memory encoding 74% faster than dull alternatives. This isn’t just a matter of design preference; it’s biology.
4 in 5 hiring managers say high schoolers not prepared for workforce
Just over 4 in 5 hiring managers — 84% — say most high school students are not prepared to enter the workforce, according to a report released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and College Board. And 80% say recent high school graduates are less prepared for the workforce compared to previous generations.
The 500 hiring managers surveyed across a range of small, mid-sized and large companies say they value soft skills such as critical thinking and communication in entry-level hires. Nearly 90% say real-world experience gained through internships, career and technical education, or jobs is “most valuable” — even more so than a formal education. An overwhelming majority (92%) say there should be more business courses in high school.
The Chief Trust Officer: Essential New C-Suite Executive
New research from Commvault, a leading provider of cyber resilience and data protection solutions for the hybrid cloud, reveals an overwhelming majority of UK business leaders believe it’s time to add a Chief Trust Officer (CTrO) to the C-Suite. This study reveals insights into boardroom thinking as more companies in the UK and globally are challenged with protecting corporate reputations and maintaining stakeholder confidence.
In this research, 7% of respondents acknowledged that no single leader holds full responsibility; accountability is fragmented across COOs, CISOs, and CIOs. The research suggests there is urgency to bring these efforts together and unite customer trust, security, and regulation management under a single leader.
75% of care workers work overtime with no advance notice, research reveals
New research on care workers reveals that 98% work overtime, resulting in an alarming 70% feeling exhausted because of their schedules. A further 77% of care workers say they aren’t satisfied with their current role. The research comes from Planday, the workforce management software from Xero. To help care workers feel supported and motivated, Planday has released a new forward thinking guide that focuses on positive and actionable strategies. Pulse Check: The Healthcare Manager’s Toolkit for Putting Burnout on Ice will empower care managers with the tools they need to build thriving teams.
Legacy IT warning as UK hit with twice as many ‘nationally significant’ cyberattacks in past year
UK entities have been hit with more than 200 cyberattacks classed as being “nationally significant” in the past year – well over double the tally from the prior year. The annual report from the National Cyber Security Centre reveals that, during the 12-month period that ended on 31 August, the intelligence agency received 1,727 tip-offs about cyber incidents – leading to a total of 429 being formally recorded and triaged. This overall volume of attacks is near-identical to the 430 figure recorded in 2024.
Read more on our sister publication PublicTechnology.net.
