2026 Organizational Learning and Development Report
The Shift from Learning Delivery to Learning Impact
We surveyed over 100 professionals across 15 countries and 23 industries to understand how workplace learning is really being run, funded, and felt in 2026.
What does workplace learning really look like across organizations today?
The 2026 Organizational Learning and Development Report provides insight into the realities, challenges, and emerging priorities shaping learning and development. Drawing from 197 valid responses across industries and countries, the report explores how organizations are structuring L&D, measuring impact, supporting learners, and preparing for the future of workplace capability development.
The findings show a clear shift: organizations are no longer asking only whether learning is happening, but whether it is making a measurable difference. From business alignment and ROI measurement to practical learning experiences, reinforcement, AI adoption, and career-linked development, the report highlights the issues that matter most to L&D teams and learners.
Some Findings
More than half of organizations run learning on teams of five people or fewer. One in five has no dedicated L&D team at all. But something is shifting. Independent L&D functions have climbed steadily, from 12.5% in 2024 to 20.3% in 2026, as more organizations stop treating learning as a side-of-desk HR task.
Strengthening the link between learning and business strategy topped the priority list at 60%, closely trailed by proving business impact and ROI at 59%. Yet only 17% of organizations currently run any ROI analysis.
More than half of organizations run learning on teams of five people or fewer. One in five has no dedicated L&D team at all. But something is shifting. Independent L&D functions have climbed steadily, from 12.5% in 2024 to 20.3% in 2026, as more organizations stop treating learning as a side-of-desk HR task.
Download the Report
See where your organization stands. Get the full 2026 Organizational L&D Survey