Training demand is strongly motivated by current work responsibilities and desire for more challenging work. Nearly all employees reported that training is needed to improve their ability to do their existing work. Similarly, more than four out of five said that training would prepare them for more demanding work and a greater variety of assignments.

Both employees and CIOs prefer off-site classroom programs. Overwhelmingly, both employees and CIOs prefer off-site classroom programs for learning all types of skills. Many comments suggested that this is the only method that assures a student will be able to devote uninterrupted time and attention to learning. However, open-ended comments included a variety of suggestions for combining training methods into complementary sets of approaches.

According to employee comments, many approaches (and combinations of approaches) to improving skill proficiency are possible and desirable. These include on- and off-site classes, mentoring, reference books, e-learning, and hands-on practice. Comments suggested that results can be improved by sequencing or combining multiple learning methods, better matching the timing of training with the need and opportunity to use new knowledge, better targeting of training intensity to needed levels of expertise, explicitly allocating work hours to professional development, and valuing learning more highly in the management culture of agencies.

CIOs favor professional certification for a number of skill types. Three-quarters of the CIOs reported that professional certifications would or might be helpful in accomplishing their agencies’ missions over the next three years. They were most positive about certifications in project management, information systems security, network security, and databases. Currently, only 1-2 percent of employees hold certifications in these areas.