A new research report, HR.com’s Future of Career Development and Mobility 2024-25, reveals that employee career development programs are falling short across many organizations. Only 20% of companies have reached the top two levels of program maturity, unveiling a significant need for improvement in supporting employee growth.

The study highlights significant gaps in career development and internal mobility efforts. Only 37% of organizations consider themselves effective in career development, while just 42% report success in internal mobility initiatives. Additionally, the research reveals that a mere 22% of organizations offer enough employee development opportunities to keep up with workforce demands. These findings underscore a critical need for organizations to prioritize career growth initiatives, particularly as employee expectations for development opportunities continue to rise.

Managers can play a pivotal role in fostering employee career development. A small majority (54%) of organizations report that managers are encouraged to help employees develop their careers. However, the research highlights concerning gaps in manager readiness and motivation:

• In 34% of organizations, managers actively discourage internal movement to retain high performers.

• Only 15% of companies have managers equipped with the necessary skills to develop employees.

• Just 10% of organizations recognize and reward managers for developing their direct reports.

“Managers are uniquely positioned to drive employee development, but they need the right training, tools, and incentives to succeed,” said Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com. “Organizations that prioritize manager development can build a more engaged, agile, and productive workforce.”

The full research report, HR.com's Future of Career Development and Mobility 2024-25, is available for free download and offers a detailed look at today’s employee development and training programs to provide actionable insights and recommendations for HR professionals looking to strengthen their career development strategies.

The recording of the research webcast presentation, How to Strengthen Today’s Weak Career Development Programs, is available for viewing 24/7 on demand.

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The HR Research Institute (HRRI) helps you keep your finger on the pulse of HR! Powered by HR.com, the world’s largest HR community, the HRRI identifies key trends and best practices to help more than 2 million HR professionals and their organizations make strategic decisions with informed and insightful research findings. Among the most productive and respected HR research institutes globally, the HRRI publishes dozens of high-quality reports every year across a wide array of HR topics. HR.com’s free membership offers many benefits, including access to over 250 exclusive primary research, state-of-the-industry reports, and infographics. These resources are published based on surveys developed with the assistance of a panel of thought leaders and industry experts on the advisory boards. Visit hr.com/hrresearchinstitute to maximize your HR potential.

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