Employers boost their bottom-line with investment in the right certification program

Employers boost their bottom-line with investment in the right certification program


October 7, 2021

IT leaders are re-evaluating their current business challenges.

The gap between future supply and demand for tech talent is prompting a shift in organizational priorities.

Following the launch of our bi-annual ‘Value of IT Certification’ candidate report earlier this year, we decided to take a deeper look at the importance and impacts of certification for organizations. What’s the real value of a certified workforce for the employer?

Tackling the skills gap

Research from IDC predicts that by 2022, monetary losses resulting from IT skills gaps will be $775 billion worldwide 1.

Employers, challenged to build teams that can keep up with the pace of technological advancements and frustrated by the resulting skills gaps, have been considering the value that credentials might offer.

Our ‘2021 Value of IT Certification Employer Report’ explores certification from three key areas: investment in upskilling, the impact on talent acquisition, and the ROI for organizations.

We spoke to hiring decision-makers and learning and development (L&D) professionals, from across the US information technology spectrum. They were united in their belief that certification leads to many positive outcomes such as improved quality of work, productivity, efficiency, innovation, and the ability to mentor others.

Employees at the heart of an organization’s L&D strategy

It’s reassuring to see that so many IT organizations are now actively investing in learning and development programs, supporting new certification initiatives, and seeing positive impacts that benefit both their employee base and their bottom line.

Our research shows that employers understand that providing employees with regular learning opportunities is key to building a strong workforce. Many are putting employees at the heart of their L&D strategy and making great strides in this area.

More than ever, employers are prioritizing corporate upskilling over other initiatives. Encouraging certification efforts and covering the costs of IT credentialing, brings a “tremendous amount of transferable value” to teams and organizations.

Employees with IT certifications outperform their non-credentialed peers, keep up to date with the latest technologies, and bring expertise that translates into quantifiable gains (ROI) for their organization.

There is much that IT professionals can learn from the perspectives of the employers we polled. Most notably, that certifications provide a baseline of trust regarding a candidate’s skill level.

With the current skills shortage, certified professionals are improving a company’s talent acquisition cycle. Those individuals that hold credentials in a particular field or specialism, are perceived as more trustworthy and more capable of filling leadership roles in the future. That’s a win-win for both the employee and their employer.

Some of our key findings:

  • 69% of IT managers feel that certification significantly increases productivity/the employee’s overall contribution.
  • 66% of IT managers say employees with IT certifications produce higher quality work.
  • 63% of organizations surveyed cover all IT staff training and credentialing costs.
  • 60% of IT managers stated that job applications with IT certifications are significantly more likely to be reviewed.

To access the full report, go to https://home.pearsonvue.com/voc.

1 International Data Corporation’s Future Scape: “Worldwide Services 2020 Predictions”


About Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE has been a pioneer in the computer-based testing industry for decades, delivering more than 16 million certification and licensure exams annually in every industry from academia and admissions to IT and healthcare. We are the global leader in developing and delivering high-stakes exams via the world's most comprehensive network of nearly 20,000 highly secure test centers as well as online testing in over 180 countries. Our leadership in the assessment industry is a result of our collaborative partnerships with a broad range of clients, from leading technology firms to government and regulatory agencies. For more information, please visit PearsonVUE.com.

October 7, 2021

IT leaders are re-evaluating their current business challenges.

The gap between future supply and demand for tech talent is prompting a shift in organizational priorities.

Following the launch of our bi-annual ‘Value of IT Certification’ candidate report earlier this year, we decided to take a deeper look at the importance and impacts of certification for organizations. What’s the real value of a certified workforce for the employer?

Tackling the skills gap

Research from IDC predicts that by 2022, monetary losses resulting from IT skills gaps will be $775 billion worldwide 1.

Employers, challenged to build teams that can keep up with the pace of technological advancements and frustrated by the resulting skills gaps, have been considering the value that credentials might offer.

Our ‘2021 Value of IT Certification Employer Report’ explores certification from three key areas: investment in upskilling, the impact on talent acquisition, and the ROI for organizations.

We spoke to hiring decision-makers and learning and development (L&D) professionals, from across the US information technology spectrum. They were united in their belief that certification leads to many positive outcomes such as improved quality of work, productivity, efficiency, innovation, and the ability to mentor others.

Employees at the heart of an organization’s L&D strategy

It’s reassuring to see that so many IT organizations are now actively investing in learning and development programs, supporting new certification initiatives, and seeing positive impacts that benefit both their employee base and their bottom line.

Our research shows that employers understand that providing employees with regular learning opportunities is key to building a strong workforce. Many are putting employees at the heart of their L&D strategy and making great strides in this area.

More than ever, employers are prioritizing corporate upskilling over other initiatives. Encouraging certification efforts and covering the costs of IT credentialing, brings a “tremendous amount of transferable value” to teams and organizations.

Employees with IT certifications outperform their non-credentialed peers, keep up to date with the latest technologies, and bring expertise that translates into quantifiable gains (ROI) for their organization.

There is much that IT professionals can learn from the perspectives of the employers we polled. Most notably, that certifications provide a baseline of trust regarding a candidate’s skill level.

With the current skills shortage, certified professionals are improving a company’s talent acquisition cycle. Those individuals that hold credentials in a particular field or specialism, are perceived as more trustworthy and more capable of filling leadership roles in the future. That’s a win-win for both the employee and their employer.

Some of our key findings:

  • 69% of IT managers feel that certification significantly increases productivity/the employee’s overall contribution.
  • 66% of IT managers say employees with IT certifications produce higher quality work.
  • 63% of organizations surveyed cover all IT staff training and credentialing costs.
  • 60% of IT managers stated that job applications with IT certifications are significantly more likely to be reviewed.

To access the full report, go to https://home.pearsonvue.com/voc.

1 International Data Corporation’s Future Scape: “Worldwide Services 2020 Predictions”