Only 17% of Workers Believe Employers Invest in Career Growth: Shocking Findings from ADP's Report

Lack of Confidence in Career Advancement

According to a new ADP Research report, a mere 17% of workers believe their employers are investing in skills necessary for career growth. This highlights a significant gap in the support employees feel they receive for their professional development.

Key Findings

The People at Work 2025 report reveals that:

• Only 24% of workers worldwide feel confident in their skills to advance to the next job level.
• Just 17% strongly agree that their employers invest in necessary skills for career progression.

ADP’s chief economist, Nela Richardson, emphasized that a skilled workforce is not only more loyal but also more productive. However, she pointed out that only a small fraction of workers are upskilled within two years of being hired.

The Importance of Employer Support

Workers who believe their employers support their skills development are:

• Nearly six times more likely to recommend their company as a great workplace.
• 3.3 times more likely to describe themselves as highly productive.
• Twice as likely to express no intent to leave their organization.

Global Insights

The report also examined global regions, showing:

• 38% of workers in the Middle East and Africa feel confident about advancing, compared to only 17% in Europe.
• Employer investment in skills is highest in the Middle East and Africa (28%) and lowest in Europe (12%).

Skills Gap in Cyclical Workers

A significant gap exists for cyclical workers, with only 9% of men and 7% of women in this group satisfied with their employer’s upskilling efforts.

Conclusion

The report underscores the urgent need for organizations to invest in worker skills and career progression to harness future technological advancements and improve workforce productivity.