The delivery of Learning and development needs to be adapted, if its to meet the changing needs of Ireland’s modern workforce, according to Robert Freese, a Consulting Manager with Deloitte Ireland’s Talent, Learning and Leadership Team.

‘The learning and development industry has undergone radical changes over the last five years.  Three key factors are driving this change. Firstly, in an increasingly knowledge-based economy, learning is a source of competitive advantage. Secondly, technology is enabling the delivery of learning anywhere, anytime, and for everyone. Finally, the workforce that is made up of four generations has a diverse set of learning styles, needs, and preferences,’ explains Freese.

According to Deloitte and Touche, a crucial group with non-traditional learning needs is Generation Y. Born after 1980, they currently make up 16 per cent of the Irish workforce and are set to be the business leaders of tomorrow.  A recent Deloitte Ireland survey on Generation Y found that training and career development are paramount to this group. They are also tech-savvy and are used to being net-connected anywhere and at anytime.

The way in which organisations develop this generation must be innovative and high impact, in order to attract them and keep them engaged.  \\\'"Chalk and talk"classroom lectures are not enough on their own to capture Generation Y’s attention and leverage their high levels of ambition and enthusiasm,’ says Freese.

‘Organisations, on the cutting edge of developing Generation Y, combine best-in-class elearning technology with dynamic, facilitated, action learning projects, focused on delivering tangible business value,’ he adds. ‘They also allow for unconventional, non-hierarchical learning interactions or ‘swarming’, through Generation Y-friendly technology such as social networking, instant messaging, and text messaging.’

Deloitte Ireland Human Capital work with a wide range of clients across industries on developing their Generation Y workforce.