Over the past decade, online learning has reached near-ubiquity for workplace training, re-certification, and job up-skilling. Beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed its popularity to new heights: enrollment numbers more than doubled in 2020 and increased by 32 per cent the following year, peaking at 189 million.
In 2020 alone, there was a four-fold increase in the number of individuals seeking out online learning on their own, a five-fold increase in employer-provided online learning opportunities, and a nine-fold enrollment increase for learners accessing online learning through government programs.
Far from being a tech-forward luxury, online learning has entrenched itself as a mainstream – and often, preferred – modality for workplace training. Access to high quality online learning, especially for high-stakes training in regulated industries, has been a true game-changer that’s provided new skills and opportunities for employees and organizations alike. But its convenience has come with new challenges: primarily, the potential for learner and credential fraud. In an ADP analysis of 2.6 million self-submitted background checks, it was found that:
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23%
of individuals had falsified credentials or licence details
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41%
of individuals had lied on their resumes about their education
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44%
of individuals had lied about their work history on their resume
Credential fraud is on the rise as online training creates new challenges in verifying leader identities, software and scammers create a burgeoning market for false credentials, and a high-turnover employment market drives some to fabricate their details in the hope of securing a newer, better job.
The “great resignation” in the wake of the pandemic, along with emerging skills gaps and difficulty finding the right talent, could lead to even bigger issues for employers in regulated industries.
“We’re heading into perhaps the biggest skills gap Canada has seen for the skilled trades, as we see a mass exodus of older generations from the workforce without enough trained workers to fill the gap. At the same time, we’re investing heavily in infrastructure. How do we not only get enough trained workers, but also ensure they have the right credentials for this safety-sensitive work?”
That’s where good credential management comes in. Credential management can mitigate the risks of fraud, and meet the demands of verifying credentials in an increasingly digital world. Technology tools like LearnerVerified, digital wallets, and the Credivera exchange can protect the public from the risks of credential fraud. Download our whitepaper to discover how.
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ABOUT WE KNOW TRAINING
We Know Training is a fully-managed solution provider for online training that matters. As a technology-enabled training company, we help you create and deliver exciting, engaging courses that make a true impact. We’re your one-stop solution partner to streamline and monetize your training, empower your learners, and move the needle on your business goals. With offices in Toronto, Edmonton, and Cambridge, We Know Training supports regulators, associations, government and licensing bodies across Canada and internationally.
ABOUT CREDIVERA
Credivera is the world’s first secure, open exchange for verifiable credentials. A leader in workforce management and digital identity, Credivera gives employees, employers, and organizations that issue credentials increased productivity and control of how important credentials are stored and shared. The Credivera Exchange optimizes personal privacy and trust, with up-to-date verifiable credentials secured in a digital wallet, resulting in reduced risk for all. Founded in 2017, with offices in Toronto and Calgary, Credivera supports regulated industries and global technology firms in over 30 countries worldwide.