OECD trends shaping the evolution of workplace learning

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2025 report on the “Trends Shaping Education” highlights that increased integration of adaptive learning technologies, artificial intelligence, and personalised learning paths is in our near future.

Organisations that invest in flexible, accessible learning solutions today position themselves for success in the next generation of educational practices.

Our world is undergoing a dramatic transformation, driven by technological advances and changing workplace demographics. With increasing pressure to create inclusive learning environments that serve all learners effectively, a fundamental shift is required to transform corporate training programs and professional development courses and align pedagogy with the advancements of the wider world.

Key trends

The OECD “Trends Shaping Education 2025” Report emphasises the critical role of AI, digital-first strategies, migration and diversity in shaping the future of education and workforce training.

The report is a comprehensive look at major economic, political, social, technological and environmental trends affecting education and includes the following highlights:

• Workplace Transformation: The integration of AI, automation, and digital tools is reshaping job markets, demanding continuous learning and reskilling.
• Inclusion and Accessibility: The report stresses the importance of making education and workplace learning more inclusive, particularly for people with disabilities, multilingual learners, and those from diverse backgrounds.
• Global Migration and Workforce Diversity: As migration increases, education systems and workplaces must adapt to support multicultural, multilingual populations.
• Technology’s Role in Learning: AI-driven tools, adaptive learning platforms, and assistive technologies are essential for creating equitable learning environments.
• Lifelong Learning and Skills Development: Traditional education models are shifting toward continuous, flexible learning pathways to accommodate evolving skill demands.

Let’s take a closer look at these trends.

Workplace transformation and skills development

As workplaces transform, so do the skills needed to achieve success. Employees seem to understand this, with a study by Deloitte finding that 90% of workers say they need to update their skills at least yearly.

However, less than half (47%) think that their company is making a significant investment in their professional development.

Investing in upskilling staff is essential for preparing for the future – but ensuring all colleagues feel included, engaged and able to access upskilling opportunities is just as important. ReadSpeaker can help make professional development more accessible and engaging for everyone, elevating your organisation’s training strategy.

 

Inclusion and diversity

Education must evolve beyond traditional one-size-fits-all approaches.

Today’s workforce includes employees with diverse backgrounds, competencies, and learning needs. For example, 1 in 6 people worldwide live with a significant disability (WHO), while a Rosetta Stone survey found 90% of workforces struggle with day-to-day language barriers.

Further evidence of the need to elevate equity in the workforce comes from the OECD Report which highlights that on average, only 40% of people with disabilities have a job across OECD countries.

The report also highlights increasing migration trends, and the need to offer inclusive education for multilingual and multicultural learners, both in educational institutions and in the workplace.

Organisations that recognise and address these challenges through inclusive training practices create stronger, more equitable learning environments for all employees.

ReadSpeaker works for a diverse range of learners including those with disabilities, learning differences or those that aren’t native speakers of the language of instruction. By adding audio, offering translation and dictionary tools, and highlighting words as they are read aloud, ReadSpeaker supports these diverse learners in understanding the content in front of them.

Leveraging technology for accessible learning

Workplace training materials often assume all learners can access and process information in the same way.

This assumption creates barriers for those colleagues with disabilities or those who are not fluent in the language the content is provided in. By implementing accessible learning solutions, organisations can ensure all team members have equal opportunities to develop their skills and advance their careers.

Accommodating various learning preferences and abilities can sound daunting. But by following Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, learning and development professionals can adapt materials for their learners.

This includes providing content in multiple formats, allowing flexible completion timelines, and incorporating assistive technologies that support different learning needs.

Text-to-speech (TTS) technology represents a cornerstone of accessible workplace learning.

TTS solutions enable organisations to transform written content into audio formats, making training materials more accessible to a wide range of diverse learners.

ReadSpeaker integrates seamlessly with existing learning management systems (LMS), allowing organisations to easily speech-enable their corporate training programmes.

This technology enables learners to access content in ways that best suit their needs, whether through visual, audio, or combined formats.

The flexibility of modern TTS solutions extends beyond basic read-aloud functionality. Features like adjustable reading speeds, text highlighting, and multiple language support create a more inclusive learning environment that accommodates diverse needs and preferences.

So with each of these trends in mind, how can learning and development professionals keep their organisations up to speed with fast-paced developments?

Implementing inclusive training practices

Successful inclusive training programmes start with thoughtful design. Organisations should consider accessibility from the beginning of content development, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

This approach ensures that training materials are inherently accessible to all employees.

Key considerations for inclusive training design include:

• Creating clear, consistent navigation structures throughout training materials.
• Providing multiple ways to access and interact with content.
• Ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies.
• Offering flexible completion options to accommodate different learning paces.

Building a more inclusive learning environment

Creating truly inclusive learning environments requires ongoing commitment and regular evaluation of training programs.

Organisations should regularly assess their corporate training programs to ensure they meet the needs of all employees and incorporate new technologies and methodologies as they become available.

Regular feedback from employees about their learning experiences can help organisations identify areas for improvement and ensure their training programs remain effective and accessible.

This feedback loop is essential for maintaining and enhancing the inclusivity of workplace learning initiatives.

Next steps to future-proof learning initiatives

As workplace learning continues to evolve, organisations must stay ahead of technological and pedagogical trends. This includes embracing new tools and methodologies that enhance accessibility and inclusion in corporate training programmes.

To begin implementing more inclusive training practices, organisations should:

1. Audit current training materials for accessibility.
2. Evaluate existing technology solutions.
3. Consider implementing TTS solutions like ReadSpeaker.
4. Develop guidelines for creating accessible content.
5. Train content creators on inclusive design principles.

The future of workplace education demands inclusive learning environments that serve all learners effectively. By embracing accessible technologies and inclusive design principles, organisations can create learning environments that support every employee’s professional development journey.