The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook. This week: From wild swims at SOFest to seismic shifts in HR and multiple AI stories; new research into workplace culture, emerging talent trends, and pressing deadlines linked to upcoming policy shifts and funding opportunities
Last chance to book your place at SOFest – ticket sales close tonight (30 April)
SOFest is a three-day immersive gathering for facilitators, trainers and coaches, taking place in Essex this June. Expect hands-on workshops, inspiring talks, wild swims, and meaningful connection – all designed to support your growth, your business, and your energy.
✨ NEW ✨a limited number of day tickets are available if you can’t join for the full three days. Don’t miss it – book by midnight.
AI is a critical skills gap area for HR in 2025, People Experience Hub survey shows
AI and evidence-based HR skills are essential for success in the people profession in 2025, according to new research – but almost half of HR practitioners are not confident that they possess these skills. This is among the key findings of the State of the People Profession 2025 survey from The People Experience hub. The survey looks in detail at HR’s strategic priorities, opportunities and challenges for 2025, with a special focus on HR’s AI usage and concerns.
Two-thirds (66.3%) of HR professionals see understanding and working with AI as the most important skill for HR in 2025 and beyond. This is closely followed by change management (63.8%) and analysing and interpreting data (56.9%). However, HR professionals with AI skills are in short supply. When asked to identify skills or knowledge gaps for themselves or their team in 2025, the two most common responses are understanding and working with AI and analysing and interpreting data (mentioned by 45.6% and 43.1% respectively).
New TalentLMS and WorkTango research highlights employees’ struggle during organisational change
TalentLMS, a leading employee training platform, in partnership with employee experience platform WorkTango, released a joint study that suggests organisational change is hindered by workers’ heightened anxiety, declining trust in leadership, and a lack of support.
The survey of 1,200 U.S. employees, who underwent significant workplace transitions in the past year, sheds light on the key roadblocks to well-led change and identifies paths to overcome them. Employees report heavier workloads, less work-life balance, and high stress and burnout — factors they also say lead to lower job satisfaction and a desire to find other jobs.
How to avoid redundancies this year
Startups has released a free report on the workforce, entitled ‘How to avoid redundancies in FY26’. The findings reveal three key challenges facing businesses: managing tax burdens, balancing operational expenses, and addressing skills shortages. These pressures are forcing leaders to rethink how they operate, with a focus on preserving their teams, which 39% of respondents consider to be their most valuable asset.
New Pearson research: The New AI talent strategy is redesigning roles
New research from Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company, shows that, as roles in the technology industry are being reshaped by automation and AI, employers should consider a strategy of ‘role redesign’ to solve talent needs and maintain competitiveness.
For this latest Skills Outlook, Solving the Tech Talent Gap from Within, Pearson looked at how the tech workforce might evolve and be reshaped by emerging technology over the next five years. The study focused on five of the most common and high value tech roles in the US. The research found that these highly valued workers will save around a day a week by 2029 – just through augmenting and automating key tasks with technology.
How to stop revenge quitting in its tracks
The workplace is undergoing a seismic shift. Forget quiet quitting—employees are now making bold, dramatic exits in what’s being dubbed “revenge quitting.” This phenomenon sees talented individuals walking away from organisations due to unfulfilled promises, toxic cultures, and a lack of recognition. And they’re not just slipping away quietly—they’re making sure their departure is noticed.
So, what’s behind this trend? According to the Hogan Assessments experts, the key lies in understanding the deeper disconnect between employees and their workplaces. “Revenge quitting isn’t just about frustration over daily tasks—it’s a breakdown in communication and a failure to align employee aspirations with company culture,” explains Dr. Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer at Hogan Assessments. “The good news? It’s preventable.”
Revature launches talent program to upskill displaced federal and government workers for in-demand tech roles
Revature, a technology talent as a service provider, has launched its Displaced Federal and Government Worker Talent Program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help federal employees and government contractors affected by program cuts re-enter the workforce with in-demand tech skills customized to employers’ needs.
The program delivers comprehensive training and upskilling in both cutting-edge IT and essential soft skills, meticulously tailored to meet the current and future demands of employers. Participants emerge workforce-ready, equipped to contribute from day one across a wide spectrum of high-impact technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data analytics, cloud computing and infrastructure, application development, cybersecurity, enterprise platforms and more.
Banking’s safest job? AI roles jump 13% amid layoffs
The world’s biggest banks increased their artificial intelligence headcount by 13% over the last six months, with one in every 50 banking employee now working in an AI-specific role, according to a study. Despite cuts to overall staffing levels at many lenders, AI continues to buck the trend. Over the past six months, banks hired across all capability areas – AI development grew six per cent, data engineering 14%, and AI software implementation 42%, albeit from a small base.
Mediazoo whitepaper breaks down what AI revolution actually means for the creative industries
Learning and communications creative agency, Mediazoo, have published an exclusive whitepaper that shares their own bespoke methodology outlining how they integrated AI into their workflow – and how they can help others do the same.
The whitepaper details the creatives agency’s AI journey, from overcoming scepticism with workforce training and hands on experimentation to leading the way as AI trailblazers. The methodology highlighted in the whitepaper emphasises the need for organisations to enable their people to use AI safely and effectively, as a foundation for achieving meaningful gains in productivity and innovation.
Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan to inaugurate eLearning Africa 2025
Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, will officially open the 18th edition of eLearning Africa, taking place from 7 – 9 May 2025 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam.
Returning to Tanzania for the first time since 2011, eLearning Africa is the continent’s largest and most influential event on digital education, training, and skills development. This year’s gathering is expected to bring together over 1000 participants from more than 80 countries, including ministers of educational and ICT, tech innovators, development partners, investors, and senior policymakers.
