Contractors Report 4.3-Month Training Gains with Immersive Learning
Key Highlights
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4.3-month average reduction in technician training time with immersive learning
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83% increase in meaningful training hours year-over-year
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52% of digital learners say training makes them more likely to stay with their employer
AUSTIN, TX — Interplay Learning, a leader in immersive training for the skilled trades and industrial sectors, has released its 2025 State of Skilled Trades Training Report, revealing how new training technologies are helping contractors and employers overcome labor shortages and accelerate technician development.
The report, based on original research from Interplay Learning, highlights a clear shift toward digital learning methods that combine hands-on realism with flexibility and measurable results.
Simulation-Based vs. Immersive Training
Simulation-based training uses interactive 3D environments where learners can safely practice technical skills and procedures in virtual scenarios that closely replicate field conditions. Immersive training builds on this foundation, adding tools like virtual reality (VR) to create a fully enveloping, “learn-by-doing” experience. Together, these methods allow technicians to train anywhere while reinforcing job-site confidence and competence.
Training Time Cut by More Than Four Months
Nearly seven in ten companies report that immersive learning helps them ramp up technicians faster—saving an average of 4.3 months compared to traditional classroom or ride-along models. Sixty-seven percent of employers said their overall training efficiency improved through their engagement with Interplay Learning.
“Digital and simulation-based training can close the gap between the urgent need for skilled workers and the time it traditionally takes to develop them,” said Doug Donovan, founder and CEO of Interplay Learning. “When companies modernize their training, they’re not just improving workforce readiness—they’re accelerating profitability and getting workers job-ready far more efficiently.”
Flexibility Drives More Meaningful Training Time
One of the biggest obstacles to workforce development remains limited time for on-the-job learning. Interplay’s research shows that immersive, device-based training solutions are breaking through that barrier, driving an 83% year-over-year increase in meaningful training hours during the first quarter of 2025.
Retention and Engagement on the Rise
The study also points to stronger retention outcomes: more than half of workers using digital learning said they are more likely to stay in their current role. For younger technicians, particularly Gen Z and millennials, the ability to learn in digital and immersive environments is a key motivator.
“Our findings highlight how Gen Z and millennial workers thrive in digital environments, adapting quickly to immersive tools that accelerate skill acquisition and field readiness,” Donovan added. “To attract and retain this new generation of talent, organizations need to align training with how these workers naturally learn and grow.”
The full 2025 State of Skilled Trades Training Report is available for download at interplaylearning.com/reports/interplay-learnings-2025-skilled-trades-training-report.
For more information about Interplay Learning’s training solutions, visit www.interplaylearning.com.