18 statistical facts about e-Learning you should know

Approximate reading time: 2m 44s

However, there are still a number of companies that fall into the group of “traditionalists,” whose managers and human resources departments cannot understand the benefits of e-Learning and do not take advantage of this training method.

So, we gathered a number of statistics we can trust and summarized them. The conclusions we reached will certainly open your eyes, and may even change the way you think.

1. In 2011, 77% of American corporations used e-Learning (in 1995, the number was only 4%). This means that the number of companies using the online training method is increasing significantly. This is mainly because technological barriers are disappearing and customer preferences are shifting from traditional training courses to online courses.

2. The corporate training industry is valued at $200 billion. e-Learning, for now, accounts for only $56.2 billion of that amount. This figure will reach $107 billion by 2015 (GIA - Global Industry Analysts). This shows that online training is one of the fastest-growing markets in the education sector.

3. The e-Learning market is no more than 13 years old (the word e-Learning was coined in 1998). Since then, e-Learning has rapidly evolved and radically changed the training industry.
If you wish, you can take a look at this infographic about the development of online learning since the 1970s (in English): http://www.pinterest.com/pin/122582421079083705/.

4. The United States and Europe own more than 70% of the global e-Learning market. However, the fastest-growing market is the Asia-Pacific region, where growth of around 20% per year is expected.

5. eLearning is the second most important training method in corporations, which are increasingly turning to blended learning rather than fully instructor-led training. The global eLearning market is expected to reach $100 billion by 2015, thanks to cost reduction, flexibility, and simple training programs.

6. It is a fact that more and more companies rely on training technologies to grow their business. According to the 2011 Towards Maturity Benchmark study, 72% of 600 surveyed companies say that training technologies such as online learning help businesses adapt more quickly to change. The same statistic rose to 82% last year.

7. The Asian eLearning market is expected to reach $11.5 billion by 2016, according to a New Ambient Insight report. The two fastest-growing countries are Vietnam (44.3%) and Malaysia (39.4%). They are followed by Thailand, the Philippines, India, and China with growth of around 30%-35%.

8. 4,600,00 college students have at least one online course, and by the end of 2014 this figure will increase to 18,650,000. By 2019, half of all courses will be delivered online.
If you wish, you can watch this video titled “eLearning Revolution”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlJshzOv2cw

9. Classes conducted electronically are 25% to 60% shorter than those held in classrooms (according to Brandon Hall, 2001 and Rosenberg 2001).

10. In 2011, 51% of companies provided at least one online training session for more than 50% of their employees, compared with 39% in 2010. For 76% of companies, the most popular form of training delivery is blended learning — a combination of classroom training and online learning. Companies that already use the eLearning method plan to further develop it.

11. According to the National Research Business Institute, 23% of employees leave companies due to a lack of development and training opportunities. Talent loss is associated with a number of costs: money, productivity, investment, and more.

12. 85% of every dollar spent on classroom training goes toward delivering the training itself (travel expenses, room rental, supplies, etc.).

13. It has been proven that e-Learning increases knowledge retention by 25% to 60% (WR Hambrecht).

14. “Less than 18% of corporate eLearning courses are on topics related to the learners’ jobs. Only 23% of corporate organizations using eLearning target their training at external clients, and just 13% at suppliers.” (Corporate University Xchange's Pillars of e-Learning Success).

15. Corporations save 50% to 70% when they switch from instructor-led training to online training (IOMA 2002). eLearning means that courses can be delivered in shorter sessions and spread across different days, so the business will not lose its employees for the whole day. In addition, productivity improves because employees no longer need to travel during peak hours to arrive on time for training.

16. According to a 2011 Towards Maturity report, online courses were the most popular training technology that year, used by 80% of employees.

17. Classroom training (or in-person training) is уступed to eLearning, dropping from 70% (of all trainings conducted) to 62%. Accordingly, training via eLearning rises to 15% of all training. This is a twofold increase in just one year (ASTD Industry Report, 2006).

18. It is not surprising that online training is especially popular among larger companies, which save on technology. In Fortune magazine’s Fortune 500 list, which ranks the world’s largest companies by gross revenue, 73.6% of technologically delivered courses are conducted online.

Which of these eLearning statistics surprised you the most?