The Best 5 Growing Industries Using eLearning Today
Advances in technology have revolutionized the way people access and process information. eLearning has become the newest method on how educational and training materials are accessed and delivered. For those who are unfamiliar with this trend, eLearning uses digital technology and a number of electronic tools to enhance the learning process. eLearning content can be used in a traditional setting or delivered totally online. With eLearning, increasing knowledge has become more dynamic because of the inclusion of interactive software and engaging graphics. The ability to manage content from a central location is so much more time effective and affordable than traditional training methods that thousands of businesses have adopted eLearning as their primary training method.
Organizations that use eLearning technologies are a step ahead of other businesses that still use a traditional approach to train and coach employees. According to Forbes and the financial analysis company Sageworks, industries using eLearning have grown exponentially. Companies that want to stay relevant must invest in strategies that effectively train employees to reach their fullest creative potential. Furthermore, businesses that expect to see financial growth must implement training practices that companies in the same industry have yet to apply. As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Bloomberg Report, and the market research firm IBISWorld, these are the top 5 national industries using eLearning to improve staff development and attain higher profitability.
1. Healthcare
Trying to meet the diverse needs of an aging population has created an even greater demand for nurses, physical therapists, doctors, and other healthcare specialists to be well-trained in emerging technology. An outlook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than half of the occupations within the healthcare industry are projected to increase 38% by 2024. As one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy, the healthcare industry has continuously used eLearning to train its professionals with relevant and effective materials and information. eLearning allows medical professionals to learn without disrupting their already demanding schedules. Information about diseases, treatment methods, using new medical technology, and administering helpful drugs is easily and quickly updated. Health professionals can access material anywhere during any time of the day, and health-based government and independent organizations use eLearning systems to educate the public about diseases and necessary health-related services.
2. Computer And Information Technology
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in the computer and information technology (IT) industry is expected to increase 13% within the next decade. This means that over 500,000 new positions including computer programmers, network administrators, and security analysts will need to be filled. The Computer and Information Technology industry contributes to the economic growth and advances in every industry. Therefore, the training and development of current and future professionals within this sector must be seamless to accomplish a number of financial, political, and social objectives. Computer and IT professionals use eLearning platforms to stay ahead of current technology and to create tomorrow’s technology. eLearning not only increases their accessibility to new concepts and designs but also allows professionals within this industry to collaborate with other computer and IT professionals around the world.
3. Retail And eCommerce
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has reported that retail sales have averaged a 3.8% increase in 2017. Online retail sales for this year have grown even more at a rate of approximately 12%. Based on information released by the Census Bureau, thousands of online and in-store retail professionals are needed to fill management positions and inform customers about new products. The biggest challenge that retail businesses have used eLearning to solve is the skill development of employees. The retail industry is competitive, and retail professionals who are technologically savvy and well-informed about products help their businesses exceed their financial goals. eLearning has helped the retail industry effectively instruct employees how to use inventory management software, coach them about security compliance, and discreetly inform employees about product changes while they are engaged with customers. eLearning has also been instrumental in teaching retail professionals about quality assurance automation. Retail companies that use eLearning build successful retail teams that use their selling skills and technological knowledge to stay ahead of the competition.
4. Education
The education industry has changed dramatically since the introduction of technology in the classroom. From pre-K to graduate school, obtaining an education can be done in the comfort of one's home. Opportunities to learn through online academies, MOOCs, podcasts, and live streaming lectures have forever transformed the way students learn and instructors teach. Investing in educational learning platforms and software technology has become the new norm. The education industry is expected to grow 7.2% in the next few years, and the introduction of eLearning has allowed this industry to become a commercial enterprise set to reach $325 billion per year by 2025.
5. Construction
Construction is one of the fastest growing industries using eLearning due to the rising need for engineers and contractors to access information in external environments and remote locations. The complexity of the construction industry has increased due to architectural design changes, environmental considerations, government regulations, and national building codes. eLearning has allowed construction professionals to cost-effectively increase their knowledge base while exceeding the client’s expectations. The success of a construction company is dependent on its ability to simultaneously deliver information to multiple sites. eLearning solves this unique challenge for training managers so that they can deliver compliance and design information to multiple sites.
