4 statistics that reveal the value of microlearning for company training
Microlearning isn’t a new concept, but in recent years, it has become extremely popular in online learning and company training. In spite of this popularity, though, recent business trends and eLearning statistics indicate that microlearning is still underutilized, given its immense value.?
So what is microlearning? In short, microlearning involves delivering learning materials in short, bite-sized chunks. A typical microlearning lesson might be delivered in just 3 to 5 minutes a day, focusing on the essential information that’s needed in the moment. As microlearning lessons are completed daily over a week, a month or a year (and beyond), those short lessons result in extensive learning.?
So do you really need to implement microlearning courses into your learning strategies? Consider the following microlearning statistics and data, and decide for yourself.?
1. The global market for microlearning is growing exponentially
As previously noted, microlearning is on the rise—and in a big way. In 2023, the global market for microlearning was estimated at US$3.4 billion. And that number is expected to climb to US$7.9 billion by 2030!
There may be several reasons for this surge. For instance:?
If you’re considering a learning management system with microlearning capabilities, you can achieve a competitive edge by giving your employees a straightforward framework for learning engagement and success at a time when employee satisfaction is paramount.?
2. Large companies are dedicating nearly 3x as many hours to training as they did just a few years ago
In 2017, employees at large companies (organizations with 10,000 or more employees) averaged 42.2 hours of training per year. In 2020, the number of hours shot up to 102.6, according to an email survey from Statista. This increase was not observed in small and midsize businesses, which saw only modest fluctuations in learning hours between 2017 and 2020.?
This means that, though microlearning is valuable for companies of all sizes, large companies especially can benefit from?implementing a microlearning strategy. Microlearning amounts to fewer hours of required training, which means less productivity sacrificed and fewer company resources exhausted. Microlearning can even help reduce development costs.?
3. Time is the #1 barrier to workplace learning
Employees want to pick up new skills and grow—but with so many priorities on the frontline, they're short on time to dedicate to learning. This is an especially big problem in the workplace, where unprecedented productivity demands preclude many employees from expanding their skill sets and pursuing expanded job roles and opportunities.?
But while it’s often a headache for ambitious employees, it can be an even bigger problem for managers who want to keep their teams learning and growing. It’s not just about career advancement. In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever for employees (especially frontline employees) to stay sharp, adapt to rapid workplace changes and be ready to take on new responsibilities at a moment’s notice.?
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The fact that microlearning enables learners to keep up with these demands is perhaps the #1 testament to its value in the workplace. Employees are constantly learning and growing with the help of short lessons delivered within the flow of work. As employees master their essential proficiencies, they’re gradually introduced to new, supplementary concepts that help them expand their skills and become experts on essential training concepts both inside and outside of their primary roles.?
4. You forget 50% of what you learn within 20 minutes?
Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted some of the first major experiments related to memory and recall in the late 1800s. He proposed that human memory is subject to a “forgetting curve,” suggesting that most of the information we absorb is quickly discarded. A typical Ebbinghaus forgetting curve suggests that people forget more than 50% of their newly learned material 20 minutes after the knowledge is imparted. The learned percentage falls to 40% in nine hours and 24% in 31 days if no reinforcement is present.?
But the research also reveals that memories can be retained through repeat exposure. If the information is reinforced in time-spaced intervals, it transitions from short-term to long-term memory.
This is exactly how a quality microlearning program works. Although microlearning modules are short, the information is continually reinforced until mastery is achieved—and even then, it’s occasionally repeated to ensure long-term retention. That’s how microlearning is able to achieve more learning with less of a time commitment.?
Microlearning is a game-changer for corporate training?
Here’s a bonus statistic: Microlearning is one of the keys to Axonify’s unprecedented 83% participation rate. Frontline employees voluntarily log on and complete their lessons every day because the learning is engaging and convenient—and because the system employs other proven learning engagement strategies like gamification.?
Remember that it’s not enough to simply make lessons short. An effective corporate learning strategy:
Only then will it make a real difference for your training program.?
If you’re still on the fence about this learning format, or if you think it’s just a trendy buzzword that will never replace traditional training methods, try it out in your own workplace. As long as you follow the best practices laid out here (make it engaging and adaptive, make it mobile-device accessible and make sure it fits into the natural flow of work), you’ll be amazed by the results.