American companies spent an estimated $1,500 per employee on training in 2024 – nearly $340B across all businesses. Despite these investments, data shows that a quarter of employees (25%) report that the training is not impactful, not worth their time, and doesn’t adequately prepare them for their roles. Nearly half (46%) speed up training videos to finish faster or let them play while multitasking. Another 1 in 10 (14%) mute their laptops or click through questions without actually participating.

Moreover, over half (52%) of American employees use AI to complete mandatory work training assigned to them. This includes using AI to answer more difficult questions they are unsure about (21%), helping them answer certain parts of questions (19%), and even taking the entire training for them (12%).

Moodle’s report also uncovered that two-thirds (66%) of American employees today are experiencing some sort of burnout, driven by:

• Feeling like they have more work to complete than time to do it – 24%
• Not having enough resources or the right tools to do their job properly – 24%
• A perception of a poor economy which is impacting their well-being at work – 20%
• Taking on too much work due to labor shortages in their industry – 19%
• They’re worried about how AI will impact their role – 13%

“American workers across most industries are struggling – especially young employees. Burnout rates are high and the threat of AI is triggering significant fear about their relevance at work,” said Scott Anderberg, CEO of Moodle. “And they are broadly saying that the training and development programs they have access to are not helping. In fact, in many cases, it’s making things worse. Employers have a unique opportunity to move beyond compliance and regulatory exercises to developing learning experiences that improve employee engagement, reduce their anxiety, and create an environment where both team members and the organization can thrive.  Moodle’s platform and services offer the flexibility, personalization, and accessibility to support organizations in making this happen.”

A company’s acknowledgement and response to this burnout is crucial. Tools like Moodle allow employers to personalize their training and onboarding experiences from the jump and provide visibility and upskilling opportunities as employees rise through the ranks.

A look at today’s workplace

The modern workplace is increasingly complex, bringing together four distinct generations for the first time ever —Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z—each with unique perspectives, communication styles, and expectations.

Moodle’s data reveals that younger generations are facing significantly higher rates of burnout, with 81% of 18-24 year olds and 83% of 25-34 year olds reporting burnout, compared to just 49% of those aged 55 and older. The top reasons for burnout across all age groups include:

• Feeling stressed because they feel they have more work to complete than time to do it (24%)
• A perception of a poor economy which is impacting their well-being at work – 20%
• Feeling stressed because they’re taking on too much work due to labor shortages in their industry (19%)

The data also uncovers employees’ willingness to adopt AI:

• Gen Z is 3x more likely to be concerned that AI tools may replace parts of their role in the future (27% vs. 8% of individuals 55+)
• But they are the generation most open to it, saying they find AI tools very helpful and believe they improve productivity (24% vs. 13% of individuals 55+)

As workforce generations shift, it’s clear that employers need to stay up to date on changing employee attitudes and expectations. High rates of burnout amongst younger generations provide an opportunity for companies to reprioritize employee wellbeing, offer meaningful professional development opportunities and enforce healthy work-life balance.

*Research findings from Moodle