ATD Research Report topics

October 2025
Change Management
ATD defines change management as “the process of enabling change within an organization by using structured approaches to shift individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to a future state.” This study will focus on the basics of change management, change management tools, and how change affects employees and organizations.
November 2025
Data and Analytics
TD professionals consistently tell us that they struggle with being proficient with data and analytics. In this report we will focus on the ability to collect, analyze, and use large data sets in real time to affect learning, performance, and business. We will also determine how organizations are leveraging this data to be a strategic partner in achieving organizational goals.
December 2025
Salary Study
In this study, ATD will investigate key questions about salary and benefits for TD professionals. The study will also focus on the formal and informal training TD professionals have had to learn about the industry. Also, include information about professional development for TD professionals.
February 2026
E-Learning
In this study we will focus on the skills needed for effective e-learning design, identify training topics that work well for an e-learning format, and how organizations are delivering a personalized experience through e-learning. This report will include a brief section on how organizations are using (and planning to use) AI in e-learning.
February 2026
Communicating the Value of TD to Senior Leaders
In this report we will focus on how TD departments communicate the value of what they do. This report will also feature a section where we hear from senior leaders and executives and what they want to know about talent development.
March 2026
Developing a Culture of Learning that Drives Business Results
In this two-part study, we will survey TD professionals to understand their role in developing a culture of learning and we will survey working Americans to understand what their expectations are for a culture of learning.
April 2026
Developing a Culture of Learning that Drives Business Results
In this two-part study, we will survey TD professionals to understand their role in developing a culture of learning and we will survey working Americans to understand what their expectations are for a culture of learning.
May 2026
State of the Industry (includes 2 co-sponsorships)
This annual report provides organizations with talent development trends, spending, and activity benchmarks. With an emphasis on industry and company size differences, this robust, data-driven report will give talent development professionals a better understanding of where the field is currently and forecast 2025 organizational priorities.
June 2026
Coaching: Human vs. AI
This report will explore how organizations use these coaching modalities and the benefits and challenges of each.
July 2026
Facilitating Learning to Maximize Impact
This report will include a brief section on how trainers are using AI technology.
August 2026
Employer-Sponsored Professional Development
In this two-part study, we will survey TD professionals to understand what professional development opportunities are supported by organizations, budgets, and the impact of providing professional development to employees. In the second part of the study, we will survey working Americans to understand their professional development expectations.
September 2026
Impacting the Business Through Strategic Alignment
In this study we will focus on organizational values, how TD professionals develop their strategy, align with business goals, and measure the success of their alignment.
October 2026
Skills Gaps in the Age of AI
This study will consist of three parts.We will survey TD professionals to learn how they are bridging the skills gap, we will survey working Americans to find out what skills they need to work on, and we will interview organizations to create case studies to highlight how organizations have been successful at bridging the skills gap. This report will include a brief section on how organizations are using AI to bridge skills gaps.
November 2026
Data Driven Decision Making
In this report we will focus on how TD professionals use data to make decisions. We will focus on the important skills needed to make data driven decisions, data they are collecting, how they are making decisions with that data, and how successful they have been in their efforts to make data driven decisions. This report will include a brief section on how organizations are using AI to understand and potentially analyze data.
December 2026
How Enablement Drives Sales Results
In this report we will focus on how TD professionals are using continuous learning to help sales people meet their goals and also stay engaged with the company.
December 2026
AI Review
From the 2026 reports, skills gaps, coaching, facilitating learning, e-learning, data driven decision making, and sales enablement all have sections about AI. This report will be an AI bundle – that will include all the AI data from 2026.