Future-Proof Your Business: On-the-Job Training for Today’s Talent Challenges
By Latrice Lewis, Senior Business Development Specialist, MBA, CPRW, GCDF, CBEP, CWDP
Who better than “you” as the employer knows what skills your new employees need to be proficient at the job. On-the-Job Training (OJT) is a workplace training method which allows employees to learn required skills, knowledge, and competencies while performing their job duties under the guidance of experienced colleagues, mentors, or supervisors.
Our OJT program is designed to help employers directly address skills gaps by training new hires on the job, according to your specific business needs. This means you have the unique ability to shape employees into the exact talent you need for your operations, all while benefiting from potential wage reimbursements and ongoing support.
Some of the latest data reveals that OJT is central to workforce hiring and retention in 2025, with employers and employees identifying it as a key driver of skill development, productivity, and job satisfaction.
OJT by the Numbers: Real Results, Real ROI
Roughly 70% of employee skills are acquired through OJT rather than formal learning, making it the primary driver of practical, job-relevant competencies.
Employees receiving meaningful workplace training—including OJT—are up to 80% likelier to stay with their employer longer, and 92% report increased job engagement.
Companies using OJT and broader employee training programs are 17% more productive and experience 21% higher profitability, with documented improvements in performance and workplace culture.
Integrating OJT into onboarding improves new-hire retention by 82%, boosts productivity by 70%, and speeds up the learning curve.
OJT is a great way for employers to bring in new employees and train them in “company-specific” skills needed for their new job. Here are a few of the “employer” benefits to using an OJT model for hiring and/or pipeline development for an aging workforce.
Skill development = faster upskilling
Retention/engagement = lower turnover
Productivity/profitability = higher output
Cost-effective = budget friendly
Customization = job-specific skills
Networking/knowledge = knowledge retention
While there are benefits for employers, here a just a few for employees as well:
Cost-effective = paid learning
Customization = personalized learning
Productivity/profitability = more job satisfaction
With the rapid evolution of AI changing the landscape of many industries, OJT could be the answer to keeping and obtaining relevant talent for your business.
Frederick County Workforce Services supports OJT with grant funding and can guide your organization in developing a program.
If you're exploring new strategies to strengthen your workforce, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.