What Do Learning and Development Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for learning and development specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what learning and development specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Learning and Development Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about learning and development specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Learning and Development Specialists design or conduct work-related training and development programs to improve individual skills or organizational performance. May analyze organizational training needs or evaluate training effectiveness.
Popular Job Titles For Learning and Development Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Operations Management Trainees
- Training Specialists
- Complex Managers
- Training Coordinators
- Technical Trainers
- Learning and Development Specialists
- Youth Development Specialists
- Development Coordinators
- Training and Development Specialists
- Youth Development Professionals
- Trainers
- Asset Protection Officers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for learning and development specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Learning and Development Specialists
Learning and Development Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Restaurants and Other Eating Places: 7%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 5.3%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 4%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 3.5%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 3.3%
- Business Schools and Computer and Management Training: 3%
- Other: 73.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of learning and development specialists can be found working in the Restaurants and Other Eating Places sector. In 2023, about 7% of all jobs for learning and development specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (5.3%), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (4%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3.5%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (3.3%) and Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (3%).
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What Do Learning and Development Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what learning and development specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work learning and development specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that learning and development specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for learning and development specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Learning and Development Specialists
Based on 112,395 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Learning and Development Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Process Improvement | 15,063 | 13% |
| Merchandising | 14,045 | 12% |
| Business Process | 13,087 | 12% |
| Performance Management | 12,730 | 11% |
| Community Outreach | 12,132 | 11% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Learning and Development Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 58,439 | 52% |
| Management | 41,341 | 37% |
| Leadership | 38,553 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 34,635 | 31% |
| Sales | 27,568 | 25% |
Based on 112,395 job postings related to learning and development specialists, process improvement was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 13% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for merchandising, business process, performance management, community outreach and retail operations were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for learning and development specialists, followed by management, leadership, customer service, sales and teaching.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Process Improvement | 15,063 | 13% |
| Merchandising | 14,045 | 12% |
| Business Process | 13,087 | 12% |
| Performance Management | 12,730 | 11% |
| Community Outreach | 12,132 | 11% |
| Retail Operations | 11,798 | 10% |
| Visual Merchandising | 11,578 | 10% |
| Profit And Loss (P&L) Management | 11,224 | 10% |
| Project Management | 11,102 | 10% |
| Learning Management Systems | 10,151 | 9% |
| Adult Education | 8,773 | 8% |
| Marketing | 8,522 | 8% |
| Curriculum Development | 8,361 | 7% |
| Instructional Design | 7,468 | 7% |
| Technical Training | 7,420 | 7% |
| Auditing | 6,988 | 6% |
| Business Operations | 5,498 | 5% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 5,480 | 5% |
| Workflow Management | 4,653 | 4% |
| Data Analysis | 4,357 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 58,439 | 52% |
| Management | 41,341 | 37% |
| Leadership | 38,553 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 34,635 | 31% |
| Sales | 27,568 | 25% |
| Teaching | 24,914 | 22% |
| Operations | 23,878 | 21% |
| Writing | 20,965 | 19% |
| Mentorship | 18,707 | 17% |
| Presentations | 18,581 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 18,573 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 16,411 | 15% |
| Planning | 16,153 | 14% |
| Training And Development | 15,983 | 14% |
| Accountability | 15,876 | 14% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 15,174 | 14% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 15,094 | 13% |
| Detail Oriented | 14,286 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 14,064 | 13% |
| Adaptability | 13,482 | 12% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Learning and Development Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Management Trainees | 19,209 | 23.9% |
| Training Specialists | 9,676 | 12.1% |
| Complex Managers | 5,686 | 7.1% |
| Training Coordinators | 5,356 | 6.7% |
| Technical Trainers | 4,400 | 5.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was operations management trainees, with 5,493 unique job postings. Training specialists were second, with 2,440 postings, followed by complex managers, training coordinators and technical trainers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to learning and development specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Management Trainees | 19,209 | 23.9% |
| Training Specialists | 9,676 | 12.1% |
| Complex Managers | 5,686 | 7.1% |
| Training Coordinators | 5,356 | 6.7% |
| Technical Trainers | 4,400 | 5.5% |
| Learning and Development Specialists | 4,093 | 5.1% |
| Youth Development Specialists | 2,474 | 3.1% |
| Development Coordinators | 3,342 | 4.2% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 3,011 | 3.8% |
| Youth Development Professionals | 2,766 | 3.4% |
| Trainers | 3,350 | 4.2% |
| Asset Protection Officers | 2,332 | 2.9% |
| Corporate Trainers | 2,249 | 2.8% |
| Talent Development Specialists | 1,656 | 2.1% |
| Night Stockers | 1,906 | 2.4% |
| Digital Learning Coaches | 1,457 | 1.8% |
| Consumables Associates | 1,726 | 2.2% |
| Sales Trainers | 1,765 | 2.2% |
| Development Specialists | 1,345 | 1.7% |
| Assistant Managers in Training | 2,425 | 3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for learning and development specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for learning and development specialists.
How much do learning and development specialists make?
Learning and Development Specialists: How do you become one?
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