Personalisation gap exposed in multigenerational L&D strategies
New research highlights engagement challenges with Baby Boomers and Gen Z, and limited organisational response.
Organisations continue to struggle with delivering inclusive learning strategies that resonate across generations, new research fshows that Baby Boomers (43.6%) and Gen Z (33.7%) are perceived as the most challenging cohorts to engage in learning initiatives.
In contrast, Millennials, now the largest segment of the workforce, were cited by only 4% of respondents as difficult to engage. The engagement gap appears linked to knowledge deficits within L&D teams, with 42% of respondents admitting they do not fully understand Baby Boomers' learning needs, and 30% expressing similar uncertainty regarding Gen Z.
Key challenges identified include generational differences in digital fluency, communication styles, and learning modality preferences. Over a third (38.6%) cited the complexity of designing for diverse learning preferences as the single most significant barrier to effective multigenerational learning design.
While most organisations report using a mix of instructional methods (54.5%) and feedback loops (53.5%) to improve accessibility, only 32.7% have significantly adapted their programmes to reflect generational differences. This suggests a persistent gap between recognition of the challenge and meaningful strategic adaptation.
Brendan Noud, CEO and Co-founder of LearnUpon, argues that personalisation at scale is no longer a theoretical ambition: “The same training will not work for every learner. With today’s technology, personalisation is achievable, and essential.”
Half of those surveyed (50.5%) identified personalised learning paths enabled by intelligent systems as a key enabler of more effective programmes. A similar proportion (54.5%) said emerging technologies such as AI-powered assistants and mobile-first platforms are critical to improving generational accessibility.
The findings underscore a maturing conversation in L&D: as demographic complexity increases and technological capabilities evolve, expectations are rising for more nuanced, data-informed approaches to learner engagement.
The research was conducted by LMS provider LearnUpon, with over 100 L&D professionals at Learning Technologies in April.