Fueling Employees' Success Through Continuous Learning

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Author

Gene Stone
2nd Vice President, Professional Development, Education and Training
LIMRA and LOMA

June 2025

Best-practice organizations know they need to maintain an agile and committed approach to engaging talent at all levels and stages, from recruits and new hires to long-tenured employees. LinkedIn data shows that 25 percent of skills have changed since 2015 — by 2030, that number is expected to reach at least 70 percent. In a multifaceted talent strategy today, a core component for most employers is centered on learning and development. A Deloitte survey of C-suite leaders finds 73 percent intend to boost their talent development investment over the next 12 months.

Furthermore, LinkedIn reports 91 percent of learning and development professionals agree continuous learning is more important than ever for career success. As organizations continue to evolve, maintaining a commitment to continuous learning will be key to sustaining growth and achieving long-term goals.

“Employees want to remain with employers that demonstrate investment in their workforce through learning opportunities and actively help employees become more successful in their careers,” says Carie Crane, vice president, professional development, LIMRA and LOMA.

Formal learning opportunities are an important tool in creating effective development plans. Traditional onboarding courses, designation programs, and leadership development often come to mind as formal learning opportunities that can be integrated into a talent development plan. In addition to providing structured and long-term learning opportunities, many organizations are implementing just-in-time learning programs to develop their workforce. Incorporating just-in-time formal learning has proven to be a highly effective way to boost employees’ skills, knowledge and engagement.

According to LinkedIn, a just-in-time learning approach can help employers address skills shortages and remain adaptable to help the right employees gain new knowledge they need to succeed in their roles. In response to increasing data on the benefits of just-in-time learning and valuable feedback from member companies, LOMA created Industry Advantage — a subscription-based program offering a comprehensive library of learning opportunities with topics focused on life insurance, annuities and workplace benefits. Since its January 2024 launch, 5,500 learners have completed more than 38,000 courses.

One company that has successfully implemented just-in-time learning is Zinnia, a life insurance and annuity technology solutions provider. Zinnia discovered that the rise in popularity and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) drove the need for up-to-date course content for their employees. Tony Boyden, learning partner at Zinnia, and his team identified a need for more new course offerings to address growth opportunities and align with company goals around employee growth and innovation. The learning solution needed to address diverse training needs, provide relevant content, and offer flexible delivery methods.

Initially, the Industry Advantage subscription was seen as a promising solution, and after experiencing its comprehensive content, user-friendly interface, and positive employee feedback, Zinnia views it as an essential tool for organizational growth and development, according to Boyden. Since implementing Industry Advantage, Zinnia has seen over 1,000 team members enroll in at least one course, with an average of 11 courses completed per team member.

Fostering employee engagement through innovative learning and development strategies is crucial for organizational success. Embracing just-in-time learning can help companies effectively address skill gaps, enhance productivity and drive employee satisfaction. A Deloitte survey reports 43 percent of companies surveyed plan to train or reskill employees to meet talent needs in the coming year.

Similarly, in a LinkedIn survey highlighting career development champions, 72 percent use employee engagement as a success measurement, while 55 percent measure development of new skills across their workforce.

In another instance, Symetra found that its employees desired short, engaging, just-in-time learning integrated into the company’s new learning experience platform. Symetra aligned its existing “Student of the Business” program — which offers professional development opportunities by line of business — with available courses. Since implementing Industry Advantage, Symetra’s employees have taken over 2,400 courses, utilizing 95 percent of the 232-course library.

“Industry Advantage offered all the pieces we were looking for — modernization, bite-sized learning, consistent updates to the course library, and an excellent learner experience,” says Jordan Croom, enterprise learning and tech optimization manager at Symetra.

Continuous learning is not just a benefit but a necessity. Organizations that prioritize learning and development are better equipped to adapt to new challenges, address skill gaps, and foster a culture of innovation. By investing in their employees' growth, companies not only enhance productivity and engagement but also build a loyal and capable workforce ready to meet future demands. As the landscape of skills continues to evolve, a steadfast commitment to learning will be the cornerstone of sustained success and organizational resilience. Ultimately, a committed approach to talent development, supported by modern learning solutions, can lead to a thriving and agile workforce ready to meet the challenges of the future.