Global Trends in Workplace Learning

The paradigm of human resource development has shifted to workplace learning and performance. An identification of global trends of workplace learning can help us to better connect with workplace learning stakeholders. Using a comprehensive search of 43 contemporary journal, magazine and newspaper articles, this paper reviews and synthesizes global trends in workplace learning in terms of the following five aspects: people/who, approach/how, time/when, place/where and thing/what. Consequently, five main trends are identified as follows: (1) Types of participants and facilitators are diversifying, (2) Emerging approach focus is practice-based systemic learning, (3) The flexibility of learning time has been increasing, (4) Learning by working and learning through systematic instruction at the workplace have been highly appraised, and (5) Workplace learning culture as well as practitioner's active engagement and motivation to learn have become key elements.