10 Emerging learning and development trends

As the needs of businesses grow and change, so should their approaches to training and development. From recruitment and onboarding to continuous training, effective learning strategies define how your organization attracts and retains talents. It also impacts how teams adapt to innovation and challenges.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 learning and development trends to watch out for this 2025. From managing a remote workforce to navigating the growing influence of technology, these insights will help your teams and your business thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

Learning and development trend #1 - Generative AI

Artificial intelligence has been a consistent force that changes and disrupts how we approach e-learning development. As early as 2023, our learning trends show how AI will revolutionize corporate training. The difference now is that we have painted a clearer picture of how it has and will continue to influence how teams learn.

For businesses, investing in AI translates to efficient use of resources with cost savings and time optimization. AI technology allows instant content creation with instructional designers having more control over the personalization and interactivity of training experiences.

Platforms like SC Training (formerly EdApp) now have features like AI Create which lets you make a course in seconds—no brainstorming, research, or waiting for inspiration required! And with more global and diverse companies, its AI Translation tool translates your content into 100+ languages with just a click of a button.

Embrace the latest learning and development trends with SC Training. Sign up today!

Learning and development trend #2 - Upskilling and reskilling

With a surge in new technologies like AI tools, there has been a rising skills gap in the job market and within businesses. Skills development guarantees that employees stay competitive and adaptable to changes and innovation. 

Upskilling employees on learning and development trends and emerging technologies and reskilling them on core competencies will foster a more capable workforce. It’ll also help them meet personal goals and contribute to company objectives. 

SC Training houses more than 1,000 courses to aid your teams in gaining new skills and knowledge. It covers lessons on industries like manufacturing, construction, retail, transport, and more. 

The content library also offers refresher courses to help you meet compliance requirements for regulatory agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).

Learning and development trend #3 - Microlearning

With the busy schedules of most employees, it can be hard to squeeze in the time for training. Thankfully, microlearning or bite-sized learning allows the delivery of information in digestible and focused parts. This makes it easier for teams to absorb and retain knowledge in a short amount of time.

More and more innovative ways of microlearning are popping up. Video platforms like TikTok offer short educational videos while AI and search engine platforms let you search with just a phrase.

L&D platforms like SC Training use microlearning to make their courses more efficient than traditional ones. This means that each lesson can be finished in less than five minutes without sacrificing quality and knowledge retention.

Learning and development trend #4 - Learning in the flow of work

Next on this list of L&D trends, we have one that’s greatly connected with microlearning and what makes it fit seamlessly in your team’s busy workdays. Bite-sized lessons are what make learning in the flow of work possible. 

This modern approach to employee training integrates learning opportunities into daily work tasks, giving teams the relevant knowledge when they’re most needed. Employees learn within the context of actual responsibilities and they can access lessons that align with their current tasks just in time.

With SC Training’s mobile-first approach, training in the flow of work has never been easier. Teams simply need their handheld devices and they can learn wherever—no desks or white-walled rooms necessary.

Learning and development trend #5 - Gamification

The gamification market is expected to grow to a whopping USD 48.72 billion by 2029. This comes as more and more companies are seeking gamification solutions to deliver training to their teams.

What makes gamification so attractive? It’s the mix of engagement, motivation, and reward that taps into how people are wired to learn. This is why gamification is built into e-learning apps like SC Training. Apart from gamified quizzes, you can also use SC Training to reward teams with banners and badges to recognize their hard work. 

Learning and development trend #6 - Employee-generated content

Among the trends in learning and development, user-generated content is gaining traction for improving engagement, enhancing knowledge sharing, and personalizing learning experiences.

Let your teams take ownership of training with content that highlights their expertise and insights. Whether it’s creating documentation, Q&A forums, or case studies, your employees will benefit from the chance to step up and collaborate with colleagues.

According to Degreed, three in every four employees (75%) prefer to engage socially while training. You can harness the value of connection with SC Training’s social and peer learning features. It lets your teams share information, ask questions, and discuss ideas in-lesson regardless of distance.

Learning and development trend #7 - Soft skills training

More companies are acknowledging the importance of soft skills, especially communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, in fostering individual and business success. In fact, 92% of businesses say that human skills matter as much, if not more than, hard skills.

Develop emotionally intelligent teams and leaders with SC Training’s courses on soft skills. It has topics on high-performance leadership, effective communication, and more, empowering individuals to build stronger, more collaborative work environments.

Learning and development trend #8 - Repurposing and outsourcing learning content

In-house training sessions and long hours of seminars may soon be a thing of the past. Today, many businesses outsource training needs from external experts, learning management systems, or e-learning content.

These specialized learning materials do more than cut costs and time spent on traditional training, it also guarantees high-quality standards. And not just that, if you have existing internal resources, it becomes easier to repurpose them into various formats, making them more digestible and suited for your team’s training needs.

SC Training’s PowerPoint Converter gives your slides an update by transforming them into a course within minutes. Plus, it’s editable so you can make the necessary changes with no design or coding experience required.

Learning and development trend #9 - Immersive learning with extended reality

Next on this list of learning and development examples that will see a boost in adoption in workplace learning, we have extended reality or XR. This means virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality will have a surge in use particularly in industries that are dangerous and high-risk.

These immersive learning technologies allow your teams to practice hands-on competencies in realistic situations while saving on resources. It can be used to train for operating heavy equipment, simulate surgeries, or practice complex flight maneuvers in a risk-free environment.

Learning and development trend # 10 - Promoting mental well-being at work

According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety lead to an estimated 12 billion lost working days worldwide every year, resulting in a staggering USD 1 trillion in lost productivity. Safe and healthy working environments can protect your team’s well-being.

Promote work-life balance and avoid fatigue and burnout by offering programs that help teams cope with stress, raise mental health awareness, and promote mindfulness. You can also propose mental health days, create a flexible work arrangement, and encourage supportive peer relationships.

What is the future of learning and development?

One thing’s for certain—learning and development will continue to evolve in 2025 and beyond. A shift toward personalized, flexible, and science-backed approaches will be more evident as teams take charge of how they learn. 

This also means that we will witness a rise in the use of technology in the coming years, even surpassing its current state. You can always stay one step ahead of learning and development trends by investing in only the best digital learning platforms.

Stay on top of L&D trends with SC Training. Sign up today!