Only three in five employees have received any training in the past year

Only 59% of workers across all industries say they have taken part in any kind of formal training over the last twelve months, according to research released today by AAT.

The Opinium Research study of more than 2,000 UK workers found that less than half (49%) had received training in the past six months, while 14% stated that they had never taken part in any form of training at their current workplace. A further 14% said that their last formal training was at least three years ago.

Despite this, workers were cheery about their ability to do their current jobs. Over nine in ten (91%) described themselves as ‘competent’ in their work, while slightly less (86%) suggested that they were ‘confident’ in their current role.

Healthcare leads the way in training up staff

It is the healthcare industry that has the best attitude to ensuring its staff are up to date with their training. Nearly three in four (73%) employees working in healthcare say they have been trained in the past year, falling to just 51% of those working in transport and logistics. Those working in finance and accountancy reported healthy training levels, with two in three (66%) being trained in the last twelve months.

It is workers in IT who are least confident in their role, with only four in five (80%) expressing this view compared to 94% of those working in the legal sector. Only 85% of those working in advertising and marketing meanwhile suggested they felt competent in their current job, a figure that again rises to 94% of those in law, the highest ranked industry.

Rob Alder, Head of Business Development, AAT said:

Ultimately, excellent training opportunities at work help in so many different ways, and it’s important that employers look to develop staff wherever possible. This can be undertaken in a variety of formats – via formal qualifications, online courses, events to improve CPD amongst others.

“Regular training keeps workers up-to-date, but also makes them feel happy they are progressing, more likely to stay loyal, increases their confidence and competencies, and makes them more productive. It’s therefore critical as a social mobility tool as people seek to move up the career ladder. We encourage businesses to consider the investments they are making in their workforce, for the benefit of employer and employees alike.”

As part of our #AATPowerUp series, AAT is calling on employers to grow their employees in order to enable them to contribute in the best possible way. For more on how AAT can help train and upskill both finance and non-finance staff, visit AAT Train Your Staff.

Opinium Research surveyed 2,005 employees, with fieldwork undertaken between 15-26 April 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are nationally representative.