Learning executives remain highly optimistic about the health of learning in Spring 2015, according to the Learning Executive Confidence Index (LXCI). 

The LXCI, which is sponsored by College for America at Southern New Hampshire University, is ATD’s quarterly assessment of learning executives’ short-term (six-month) expectations for the health of learning in organizations. In fact, the current level of optimism is the second-highest ever seen since ATD began calculating the LXCI in 2008. For Q1 2015, the LXCI reads 68.8, compared to 68.2 in Q4 2014 and 66.9 in Q3 2014; the higher the score is, the more optimistic learning executives are. The strong performance of the LXCI echoes the low unemployment rate and healthy job growth seen in early 2015. 

Why Do We Survey Learning Leaders on Their Optimism for Learning? 

The LXCI is a tool that can help learning leaders compare views on learning over time and identify trends, as well as see where their own views are relative to those of their peers. It can also aid learning executives in demonstrating the need for resources for learning to their organization’s leadership. 

What Can We Learn by Comparing the LXCI to Unemployment? 

Each quarter, the LXCI report includes for reference information on the overall state of the economy. For example, it includes information on unemployment because as unemployment drops, the LXCI rises.  Recall that the LXCI reflects learning executives’ outlooks for the next six months. 

Not surprising, if a large number of work-seekers have recently been hired, learning will play a critical role in the next six months and beyond as these new employees move into and acquire the skills necessary to succeed their new jobs. In March 2015, the unemployment rate was a low 5.5 percent, unchanged from February and slightly down from 5.6 percent in December 2014 and 5.8 percent in November 2014. 

The LXCI report also analyzes other economic indicators that are related to the LXCI, such as gross domestic product (GDP) growth, and the Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, which rates CEOs’ short-term outlooks for the economy. Knowing the extent to which changes in the economy affect the health of learning, and knowing the timeframe in which an economic change impacts learning, can help learning and business leaders better predict the future state of learning in organizations and be better prepared for potential challenges faced by learning functions. 

Learn About the LXCI and More in a Webcast on April 23 

Want to learn more about the LXCI, as well as gain more insights into how the learning executive community views issues and trends in learning? Register online now for ATD Research’s webcast on April 23, “A View From the Top: The Learning Executive’s Take on Learning Strategy and the Future of Learning.” In addition to discussing trends from the LXCI and how learning executives use its findings, the webcast will also cover ATD’s ongoing research on how learning leaders can develop an effective learning strategy that is aligned with business strategy. 

The LXCI report is available for free at www.td.org/lxci. If you’re a learning executive interested in participating in a brief online survey for the LXCI, please email [email protected].