2,064 survey respondents
1 in 10 lack clarity about what skills they need
70% believe training helps improve their job performance
Apolitical, the world’s largest community of public servants, has published The state of learning in government. The report presents findings from a survey with 2,064 respondents from over 60 countries (the majority in the UK and Canada), making it the most comprehensive dedicated global survey of learning and development in government.
The survey findings show that public servants are pressed by urgent priorities, trying to make space for the important work of learning but often confused about priorities for skills development.
Time is by far the biggest barrier public servants face to engaging with learning, which is part of the reason why they increasingly rely on informal modes of learning.
1 in 10 are ‘lost learners’ — a lack of clarity about which skills they need to develop is a major barrier to engaging with learning.
The vast majority engage with learning through online/virtual platforms.
70% believe that their recent training has contributed to improved job performance at work and career advancement.
The report includes a series of recommendations to support governments to improve the quality and effectiveness of learning in government.
Robyn Scott, CEO and co-founder of Apolitical said: “Learning in government is not getting the attention and resources needed for the action we need from governments in the 21st century. There are 200 million public servants globally, with influence over trillions of dollars.. The tidal wave of generative AI and the accelerating impacts of climate change have increased pressure on public servants to adapt more quickly to whole-of-government challenges. This won’t happen without a shift in the way government leaders prioritise and budget for building capable, agile workforces.”
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