We recently released our Professional Development Research Report (free download here), and with any professional development, there is a component that is driven by the employee, and there is a component that is the employer supporting the professional growth of that employee.  I was truly saddened when I saw the results of this question:  Do you feel your company is sufficiently preparing you to advance to the next stage in your career?

Ready?  The percent that said that “Yes” their company was preparing them to advance in their career:

18%

This is a dreadful statistic, and even worse, it has real ramifications.  This isn’t a situation where the employee just shrugs his or her shoulders and continues on in their job.  We also asked, “How highly do you factor your company's support of your professional development in your decision to stay at the company?” 

So that lack of support from their company has a direct impact on employee turnover at the company.  People want to feel that they are progressing in their careers – they want to see their company support their goals, providing opportunities to learn new skills, acquire new knowledge, and advance.  And if they don’t feel their company is supporting them in those ways, they are ready to leave to a company that will.  So the question is:  Is your company supporting the goals of its team members in education and career growth, or are they risking losing their stars by not preparing them for advancement?