As effective communication emerges as an increasingly essential component of success in today's fast-paced global economy, more employers are recognizing the importance of written communication skills training for employees at all levels of their organizations.

Clear, concise and effective writing in emails, reports, letters and other documentation is a key factor in the ability of employees to form teams, work cooperatively, coordinate activities and transfer knowledge. Written communication is vital to the understanding of job responsibilities, policies and procedures, work agreements, and job performance.

Employees now have fewer opportunities to meet face-to-face or even speak on the phone than at any time in the past. Impressions on both sides are often quickly formed from written words. As a result, incoherent emails or disorganized reports can create an impression of incompetence that may not accurately represent the employees or their organizations.

In an effort to meet the growing demand for improved business writing and communications skills, one of Contract Educations' subject matter experts has developed a two-day Business Writing for Results Workshop. Learn more

Even as the current job market remains tight and the pace of economic recovery is slow, many organizations are anticipating not only greater global competition but also a much more competitive job market in the decade ahead. In order to prepare for these major economic shifts, business leaders are recognizing the need to renew their focus on employee training and development.

As employers face the challenge of finding cost-effective solutions that make learning an integral component of job performance, there are a number of trends influencing organizations' emerging focus on employee training and development:

• In response to increasingly competitive markets, pressure to increase productivity and the need to retain skilled employees, training budgets are expected to rise (an upward trend that began with a 9.5% increase in 2011 training budgets, according to the annual survey conducted by Bersin & Associates HR Research Organization).

• Learning and development will continue to evolve from standardized training programs to customized, comprehensive solutions that address real business challenges and changing business needs.

• Increasing Boomer retirement rates and competition for talent are expected to create a shortage ofexperienced managers, highlighting the need for effective leadership and management training to grow leaders from within.

• More employers will encourage employees to embrace continuous development and acquire new skills as business and client needs change. Learn more

As part of an ongoing initiative to offer hands-on training and support to local manufacturers, Contract Education recently provided an onsite Soldering Refresher Course to a global manufacturer of integrated vehicle systems technology. The interactive course, employing hands-on lab and classroom learning using internationally recognized standards for electronic assemblies, was delivered at the company's Livermore R&D Center, which focuses on the design and development of motor speed controllers for electric vehicles.
 Learn more