What Tech Leaders and Learners Really Want from Training in 2025

Imagine sitting down with a group of tech leaders and learners and asking them: What do you really want out of training? That’s exactly what ACI Learning did—and the answers give us a pretty clear picture of what’s working, what’s missing, and where things need to go next.

Whether you’re managing an IT or cybersecurity team or working to grow your own career, the message was loud and clear: training matters more than ever. But not all training hits the mark. Here’s what people say they need most in 2025.

---

What’s Actually Working

The best training isn’t just educational—it’s practical. It sticks when people can apply what they’re learning right away.

From both business leaders and learners, four themes kept coming up:

• Hands-on labs: People want to learn by doing, not just watching.
• Structured paths: Learners benefit from guided journeys, not guesswork.
• Flexibility: Training must fit into real-world schedules—not disrupt them.
• Real impact: If training doesn’t lead to better performance, it’s not worth the time.

---

Why Businesses Keep Investing

For employers, training is a long-term play—and it’s paying off. According to those surveyed, effective training leads to:

• Faster ramp-up for new hires
• Higher productivity and collaboration
• Increased employee motivation and retention
• Better compliance and adaptability to change

Training that drives results doesn’t just teach skills—it creates momentum.

---

What Learners Want (and Say Works Best)

From the learner perspective, training has a real, personal impact.

Many reported that training helped them feel more confident in their technical skills and more capable in their current roles. For some, it even led to a raise or a promotion.

What stood out most:

• Video-based lessons they can watch on their own time
• Practice assessments that build true confidence
• Virtual labs that let them apply what they’ve learned in a safe environment

---

What Teams Are Learning in 2025

So what’s hot in tech training right now?

The basics still matter—networking, security, and systems—but cloud, AI, and automation are quickly becoming essential. Across the board, organizations are looking for training at all levels: foundational, intermediate, and advanced.

It’s not just about technical topics, either. Process frameworks and team-based skill development are gaining momentum too.

---

What’s Getting in the Way

Even the best training tools fall flat if people don’t—or can’t—use them.

Here are the biggest barriers leaders reported:

• Tools that don’t fit into busy workdays
• Not enough advanced or role-specific content
• Poor visibility (people don’t even know what’s available)
• A lack of clear direction or learning paths

Most of these are fixable—but only if training programs are designed with the end user in mind.

---

What’s Still Missing

Off-the-shelf content alone isn’t cutting it. Leaders want training that can be customized to their teams’ actual needs.

Here’s what they’re asking for:

• Depth: Content that goes beyond surface-level learning
• Customization: The ability to assign content based on roles or teams
• Discoverability: Easy for users to find and start
• Flexibility: Training that works the way people do—not the other way around

In short, they don’t want to rely on hope. They want the ability to guide learners toward what’s most important.

---

The Bottom Line

Training has the power to transform teams—but only if it’s done right. When it works, it helps people ramp up faster, reduces escalations, increases retention, and creates a smarter, more confident workforce.

And the best part? The blueprint is already clear.

Make it:

• Hands-on
• Structured
• Flexible
• Outcome-focused

That’s what tech teams and learners want in 2025—and it’s exactly where smart organizations are headed.

---

👉 Want to see all the insights, data, and direct quotes from real tech leaders and learners?
Read the Report