Online Programs Saw 300% Growth During Healthcare’s Toughest Year

Posted by Molly Falconer on February 8, 2021

2020 was the busiest year in history for hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers who worked nonstop around the globe to face their biggest challenge yet. The grit and determination displayed by nurses, doctors and healthcare workers is little surprise, and our data shows that thousands more are stepping up to meet the challenge, and employers are supporting them.

From 2019 to 2020 Penn Foster Allied Health Programs saw a 300% jump in enrollments as employers sought out strategic ways to support burnt out staff and prepare a new wave of workers for career advancement. Online education options provide an opportunity for staff to learn new skills and train for new career goals while working around their busy schedules. While national trends point to declining enrollments at colleges, healthcare programs are attracting a new wave of employees seeking to upskill or reskill into new roles.

“Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the region’s labor market, but existing training programs have not historically been able to meet employer demand,” said Jesse McCree, CEO SCPa Works. “As the regional workforce development board, we are excited to support training programs that are showing significant impact for our communities. Public-private partnerships like this one [with Penn Foster] can expand access to career opportunity at a time when the need for new solutions has never been greater.”

Employers see the benefit as well- not only does offering employees development opportunities increase motivation and engagement, but it allows organizations to reduce costs from hiring external candidates, which can be up to 20% of the employee’s salary. When an organization shows that they invest in their team, retention and productivity rates skyrocket- which means everyone benefits.

Ready to give back to your team? Contact a Penn Foster training expert.

Learn how to build the ultimate workforce training program: Four Simple Ways to Maximize Your Training Program