IT employers are increasingly investing in training and assessment for staff, according to a new survey by computer-based testing company, Pearson VUE.
A global survey of more than 29 000 IT professionals who took a certification exam in the last 12 months, found that 56% were paid for by employers – an increase of 6%, compared with the company’s previous annual survey – and only three in 10 exams (30,5%) were paid for by the individual test-taker.
The majority of those surveyed had experienced professional benefits from completing their certification, with over six in 10 (64,9%) stating that obtaining certification had a positive impact on their professional reputation. A fifth (22,6%) said they had moved into a career in IT as a result, and almost a fifth (17,7%) said it helped them get a salary increase.
More than a third (36,9%) said the certification helped them perform complex tasks more confidently, and a fifth (21,6%) said it helped improve their performance review ratings.
More than eight in 10 of those surveyed (81%) had taken a training course – either through an instructor-led classroom, virtual classroom or digital training – in the past 12 months.
“Our research indicates that employers recognise that investing in training and certification has substantial benefits for their staff and their business,” said Bob Whelan, president of Pearson Assessments. “More than half of employees (54%) experienced their first benefit from certification very quickly, within the first three months, which could explain why 88% are likely to take a further certification in the next 12 months.”
To download the report, visit www.pearsonvue.com/voc
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