Asking why learning & development (L&D) matters is like asking why education matters. Education is the rocket fuel of human progress. It cured diseases, put us on the moon, and connected the world.
And you — the L&D pros — are the architects of this progress within organisations. The work you do doesn’t just ‘deliver training’. It breaks down barriers, unleashes potential, and builds futures.
The numbers speak for themselves: 94% of employees would stay longer at companies that invest in their growth. As Josh Bersin puts it, “The single biggest driver of business impact is the strength of an organisation’s learning culture”.
Yet today’s stakes are higher than ever. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are reshaping jobs overnight. Hybrid work now demands smarter upskilling. And younger generations crave actual purpose in the workplace. Cue the wind machine and Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out for a Hero. This is where you come in.
So, to every learning professional reading this: buckle up. In this article, we’ll be exploring 15 reasons why your role isn’t just essential — it’s revolutionary. Prepare to be inspired. Let’s go!
What is Learning and Development (L&D)?
Let’s kick things off with a definition.
Learning and development is both a strategic approach and a business function. As the name suggests, it’s the overall strategy a company uses to help its employees learn and develop. This includes everything from short-term skills training to setting long-term career goals.
But L&D isn’t just fancy strategy. It’s also the awesome crew (whether that’s a team or department) tasked with making all this learning magic happen. They have a wide range of responsibilities, including:
- Diagnosing skill gaps
- Building learning programmes
- Delivering and facilitating training
- Performance support
- Measuring impact
- Creating a learning culture
The Importance of Learning and Development
In 1820, only 12% of the world’s population could read. Fast-forward to today, and that number has rocketed to 86.3%. This is a testament to education’s power to transform societies.
The technological advancements we’ve seen in the last few decades alone have had an immense impact on literacy rates. Over the past 65 years, these rates have climbed by an impressive 4% every five years.
The corporate world is facing a similarly seismic shift. After all, we face a looming skills gap, digital transformation, and regulatory hoops that are multiplying like rabbits.
As a learning practitioner, you’re on the frontlines of this workplace revolution. The future of work depends on your skills and expertise. With that in mind, let’s run down the 15 reasons why L&D is now an essential business force.
1. L&D is Tackling the Skills Gap
Why do learning professionals matter? Because the skills gap has widened into a chasm, demanding immediate action. The numbers are staggering: 1 billion global workers will need to reskill by 2030 due to technology-led changes in the workplace.
In fact, 42% of core job skills are projected to become obsolete. The effects of this are already evident. According to Manpower Group, 74% of companies globally are struggling to find skilled workers. Factor in the rise of artificial intelligence and the challenge becomes even more urgent.
Thankfully, L&D pros are on hand to bridge this divide by equipping workers with the skills they need to thrive in the future of work. By clearly mapping required skills for specific roles you provide the visibility learners need to make informed career decisions.
Here’s the bottom line: 74% of your employees are ready to jump ship if you don’t offer reskilling or upskilling opportunities.
2. L&D Keeps Employees up to Date
We all like to stay informed. That’s why there are over 60 listed channels dedicated to 24-hour news worldwide. This thirst for knowledge is no different in the workplace.
Keeping your employees in the loop is vital. After all, 85% of employees feel more motivated when they receive regular updates. Additionally, in a survey of 244 workers, a whopping 80% said that great communication is key to building trust with their employers.
L&D professionals support this process by providing the tools and resources that facilitate open communication and the pursuit of knowledge. With your guidance, employees won’t just keep up — they’ll forge ahead.
3. L&D Inspires Continuous Learning
Learning doesn’t stop once an employee has been onboarded. After all, knowledge acquisition is a never-ending quest without a set destination. It’s an ongoing process with ever-shifting goalposts.
In today’s dynamic workplace, sitting still is the same as stagnating. Thankfully, L&D professionals can help by swapping ‘one-and-done’ training interventions for a bona fide learning culture.
This is a community where curiosity thrives, growth is championed, and skills evolve at breakneck pace. The benefits are clear. According to research by Deloitte, organisations with a high-performance learning culture are:
- 92% more likely to innovate.
- 17% more likely to be a market leader.
- 58% better prepared to meet future challenges.
- 34% better at responding to customer needs.
4. L&D Supercharges Performance
Learning and development delivers real business value. Notably, 67% of L&D professionals agree that the function has a positive impact on revenue.
As a learning technology provider, we’ve witnessed this firsthand. Take our Fortune 500 cosmetics client: they saw an average 20% increase in sales revenue in territories using our app solution. In other words, L&D is no longer a cost centre, it’s a growth generator. Rejoice!
From accelerating time to competency and improving productivity to mitigating risk, L&D adds value in countless ways. The key is to demonstrate that value. Unfortunately, only 8% of L&D professionals calculate the ROI of their training programmes.
Don’t let that be you. Step up, measure your impact, and showcase the strategic power of L&D.
5. L&D Attracts (And Retains) Top Talent
Did you know that almost all (92%) job candidates use learning and development opportunities as a deciding factor when considering job offers? After all, why would someone want to invest in a company that fails to invest in them? It’s a two-way street.
But learning and development opportunities don’t just attract talent. They retain them too! According to a Better Buys survey, employees with professional development opportunities are 15% more engaged and have 34% higher retention rates.
This has real bottom line impact. Replacing a star player can torch up to 2x their annual salary. Yikes. This is yet another reason to thank learning professionals for building armies of loyal and future-proof talent.
6. L&D Supports Hybrid & Remote Work
A full 16% of companies worldwide have adopted a fully remote model, and we’re proud to be among them. While the “return-to-office” debate rages on (and on), workers have made their views clear. Hybrid work is the preferred model for 83% of the global workforce.
If the future of work is flexible, then L&D teams need to be the glue that holds geographically scattered teams together. It’s your job to ensure employees stay engaged, connected, and equipped to thrive in this borderless work era.
One of the best ways to do this is by equipping your people with the right tools. Think beyond video calls and instant messages. A robust learning management system can be a game-changer that helps you to build a vibrant community (regardless of learner location).
7. L&D Drives Organisational Alignment
Organisational culture is more than just a nebulous vibe. It’s the beating heart of every company. A whopping 94% of executives believe that company culture helps them to win out over their competition. On the other hand, a toxic culture has the opposite effect.
According to SHRM, 57% of employees who rate their organisational culture poorly say they will soon be looking for another job. Worse still, 21% of US workers quit their jobs due to workplace culture or office politics.
Unfortunately, only 40% of companies nail the art of tying learning objectives to their mission, vision, values, and goals. But, when they do, magic happens. You are this force for alignment within your organisation. By forging a unified culture, you ensure everyone is rowing in the same direction.
8. L&D Encourages (Healthy) Competition
The word ‘competition’ conjures images of cutthroat rivalries. But when it’s channeled effectively, competition can be a powerful catalyst for innovation and growth.
From the space race to the PC vs Mac battle, history is filled with examples of competition driving progress. Fun fact, did you know that runners shave 8 seconds per mile off their pace when racing a rival?
Fostering friendly competition between employees can be a great way to produce business impact. In fact, 89% of employees agree they’d get better results if their work was more game-like. In other words, leaderboards aren’t just for sales teams anymore.
Want to bring some of this energy to the world of L&D? We have a whole host of ideas for you. However, it’s your job to keep things fun, fair, and fiercely rewarding. Avoid the Game of Thrones-level drama and toxicity, and focus on growth.
9. L&D Fuels Knowledge Sharing
Competition has its place, but collaboration is the secret sauce of workplace success. When teams share knowledge freely, they’re capable of redefining what’s possible.
Here’s a brutal truth: Fortune 500 companies lose an estimated $31.5 billion annually by failing to share knowledge effectively. That’s not pocket change. What’s more, 86% of execs pinpoint poor collaboration as the primary cause of workplace failures.
Is it any wonder why 87% of employees recognise social knowledge sharing as an essential ingredient for a thriving organisation?
As a learning professional, you demolish knowledge silos so that information can flow freely. Whether it’s through mentorship programmes, social learning platforms, or group projects, you play a pivotal role in connecting your audience.
10. L&D Creates Lifelong Learners
Albert Einstein once famously said: ‘Once you stop learning, you start dying.’ We wholeheartedly agree with him. And thanks to neuroplasticity, our brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself, we are able to learn and grow well into our dotage.
It turns out you can teach an old dog new tricks. Better still, a study by the University of California reveals that learning keeps your brain healthy and sharp. It’s amazing for improving your brain connectivity and cognitive skills.
Why does this matter? Well, we’re all living longer, but our careers aren’t. Indeed, 89% of employers agree that continuous learning is essential for employees to meet evolving business needs. As such, when L&D pros turn learning into a lifestyle, they both empower individuals and future-proof organisations.
11. L&D Enables Better Futures
Ultimately, L&D is about unlocking the potential of your people. By investing in their growth, you’re handing them the tools they need to smash through barriers and achieve what once felt impossible. At the same time, you’re shaping a brighter future for your organisation.
By closing skill gaps, you turn ‘I’m stuck’ into ‘I’m unstoppable’. What’s more, feeling capable and competent at work can translate into feeling more confident in personal pursuits. The soft skills employees gain from learning programmes can illuminate all aspects of their lives.
This isn’t just feel-good rhetoric. 89% of L&D leaders agree that proactive skill-building is essential to navigating the future of work. And employees themselves are hungry for growth. According to PwC, 74% of workers want to develop their skills to remain employable.
12. L&D Supports Mental Health
Employee wellbeing isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’. In today’s fast-paced and always-on work culture, it’s a business imperative. We’d argue it’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. After all, consider this alarming data set:
- 15% (roughly 1 in 6) of working-age adults battle mental health disorders daily.
- 41% of employees report experiencing ‘a lot of stress’.
- 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety.
- And this comes at a cost of $1 trillion per annum in lost productivity.
Thankfully, you can make a difference. According to the Open University, 96% of employees see a clear link between L&D activity and wellbeing. In fact, 36% saw an immediate boost to wellbeing as a result of short-term skills development. Now that’s quick impact!
Studies show that training boosts wellbeing as much as a 1% pay bump. Now imagine amplifying that through a supportive and rewarding learning culture. That’s your new goal.
13. L&D Promotes Diversity & Inclusion
At the time of writing, in early 2025, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies are facing an unprecedented backlash. Corporate giants like Target, Amazon, and Meta have all rolled back their policies. Donald Trump has even blamed diversity policies for a fatal air crash that took the lives of 67 people.
While this seems like a morally backwards move, it also doesn’t make much business sense. Research by Josh Bersin shows that companies that prioritise DEI are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders. And 75% of executives agree that their DEI investments have a ‘very positive’ impact on their competitive position.
Thankfully, L&D acts as the antidote to ignorance and the engine of equity. You provide training that helps employees to understand unconscious bias, its impact, and how to mitigate it in the workplace. In turn, you can build a culture where diversity drives disruption.
14. L&D Facilitates Innovation
Curiosity and necessity have inspired us to do great things in the world. Without these twin pillars of inspiration, we’d have no polio vaccines, no moonwalks, no rock ‘n’ roll rebellion. No anything worth remembering.
We can wrap all this up in one word: innovation. And executives agree: 84% see an innovation focus as crucial to their company’s growth strategy.
So what is L&D’s role in innovation? Innovation relies on collaboration, steep learning-curves, troubleshooting, constant tweaking, mentoring, testing and launching. You build the psychological safety for risk-taking, the tools for upskilling, and create the space for real innovation to take place.
Need more inspiration? Then keep in mind that high-performing learning organisations are 92% more likely to innovate.
15. L&D Is The Spark That Ignites Purpose
The modern workforce is powered by purpose. The days of simply collecting a paycheck are over.
According to McKinsey, 82% of employees believe it’s important their company has a purpose. This number will only increase as younger generations enter the workforce. Case in point: 70% of Gen Z workers rank purpose as more important than pay.
But purpose isn’t something a company can fabricate overnight. It must be woven into the fabric of the organisation and brought to life by its learning strategy. In fact, 8 in 10 employees say that ongoing learning initiatives add purpose to their jobs.
What’s more, having purpose and a clear focus feels good. After all, 80% of workers agree that acquiring new skills makes them feel more engaged. Happily, this is also linked to a 125% boost in productivity and a workforce that’s 24% more profitable.
Final Words
Being a learning and development professional isn’t easy. Particularly in today’s modern work environment. You’re not just a trainer, facilitator, or content creator — you’re a lifeline for individuals and organisations navigating the future of work.
Every programme you design and every skill gap you close has a ripple effect that shapes potential and empowers growth. In doing this, you can stand proud in the knowledge that you are making a difference in the world.
So keep fighting the good fight, L&D champions. The world needs your expertise, your passion, and your unwavering commitment to learning.
Thanks for reading. Ready to take your L&D skills to the next level? Download our free ‘L&D Professional’s Handbook‘ with 165 expert tips to elevate your learning programmes and drive real impact.
