Hospitality employees say L&D is a ‘vital’ factor in choosing an employer

Survey finds employee demand for career progression is on the up as previous data suggests that HR sees learning as ‘critical’ but often underfunded

The vast majority (83 %) of employees saw learning and development (L&D) as a “vital factor” behind their choice of employer, a survey has found.

The data revealed that a good L&D program was also crucial for retention strategies, as two-thirds (66 %) of hospitality workers said they would consider quitting their job within 12 months if L&D to help with career development was cut.

When asked why they would have quit the job in the past, three quarters (75 %) of hospitality workers said not being paid enough was the main reason, while just under a half (49 %) said poor management. Two-thirds (34 %) said an under-resourced team was the primary reason.

The survey shows that there is “no excuse” for a company not to have L&D in place for its staff. Companies with extensive L&D opportunities have a competitive advantage. Because it is important to show what they do both externally to attract the best talent and internally to promote a culture of learning.

It’s important to notice the role of L&D during the economic downturn and that it’s the job of L&D to make employees as productive, enabled, happy, and engaged as possible.

The global survey of 1,555 employees found that millennials cared the most about L&D, with four-fifths of this group (83 %) saying they would be more likely to choose an employer that prioritized continuous learning and development opportunities. Over three-quarters, (79 %) of Gen Z would have done the same.

Interestingly, the less experienced an employee is, the more they would feel compelled to quit their job if their employer cut L&D.

Having good learning opportunities is key to helping people progress and move roles. People, particularly the generations coming into the employment market, are also looking for work with a purpose.

The 2022 Workplace Learning report by Linkedln – which surveyed 256 L&D professionals –  found there was a 94 % increase in demand for learning specialists last year, with two in five (41 %) of its respondents saying they planned to deploy large-scale upskilling or reskilling programmes in the year ahead.