State of the Training Industry Benchmark Report 2026
Now in its tenth year, the State of the Training Industry Benchmark Report continues to provide a clear view of how the training landscape is evolving in practice. From changing learner preferences to the growing role of AI and increasing operational pressures, this year’s findings help training providers understand where the industry is heading and how to respond.
With insight from both training professionals and learners, the report highlights the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping training today, supporting more informed decision-making across the sector.
Here are some of the key findings from this year's training industry report:
- Reputation and word of mouth remains the most effective marketing channel, continuing to outperform all other methods
- Nearly 60% of training providers are now using AI in some capacity, with the biggest impact seen in content creation and reducing admin
- Customer and delegate satisfaction remains the most important measure of success, used by 78% of providers
- There is a continued gap between learner demand and delivery, particularly for video (51% vs 37%) and podcasts (22% vs 12%), although adoption is increasing
- Lack of resources (41%) and maintaining quality in a fast-moving, AI-driven market (39%) are the biggest challenges facing providers
- More interest in classroom learning (37%) highlights the continued value of face-to-face training alongside digital delivery
What's inside?
- How learners really feel about training delivery
- Training industry challenges and opportunities for the year ahead
- Trends in training delivery methods
- How technology use is evolving and being embraced