Survey respondents report non-credit, short courses, and conferences as important avenues for retooling and refreshing their skills for both current and future careers. In addition, distance learning will become an important source for continuing their education. Companies continue to invest in employee education and training. More than nine out of ten companies provide employee education assistance. Over eight out of ten persons reported receiving job-related education and training from their employer in the last three years.
Education is important to individual and company success.
Little attention has been focused on the impact and implications of these changes for the American and education and training industry. Indeed, thinking of education and training as an industry is itself a new concept. Much has been written about how these changes will increase company and individual training investments and expand the aggregate demand for training and education. Another part of the story, which has not been widely discussed, is how these changes are transforming the structure of the education and training industry itself.