8 out of 10 employees value personal development over salary increase

There has long been an emphasis on creating a learning culture in business. And this hard work is paying off.

According to new research from personal development and soft skills elearning experts Good Habitz, a 'growth learning mindset' is firmly embedded across the UK's workforce.

Good Habitz's most recent Learning and Development Trend Report, looks at attitudes towards learning among working adults. The findings show that UK workers from all backgrounds want the opportunity to develop more than they want a salary increase.

80% of those questioned want the chance to keep learning and challenging themselves. Among workers who had completed higher education programmes, that figure rose to 87%. In terms of what workers value, 35% said that being given the chance to learn by their employer was important, compared to 29% who cited a generous salary.

The most sought-after skills among respondents were IT (27%), managerial (24%), and positive psychology skills such as NLP, mindfulness and stress management (16%).

When it comes to who should take responsibility for this learning, the answer is clear. 86% of employees believe that employers should be investing in their staff and facilitating their personal development. The research also revealed that 23% of employees expect employers to give them time off for learning and development.

The report also highlighted a shift in learning habits, with a preference for elearning over classroom-based study (59% v 55%). This elearning trend is set to increase in the future, with 50% expecting to use elearning, compared to 18% who anticipate learning from books or in a classroom setting.

If you are looking to expand your team and want to attract the top talent, get in touch with Stopgap today.