How to improve employee job security through CPD

Providing job security for employees can be fundamental to ensuring an organisation’s overall growth and success. There are multiple factors that can significantly enhance and contribute to the job security of a workforce. In this article, we will discuss how organisations can provide job security to their staff, including the benefits of CPD training as a valuable tool for improving job security.

What is job security and why it’s beneficial?

Job security refers to an employee’s confidence in the longevity of their role within an organisation. Employees who are uncertain about their future in a company may struggle with engagement and might seek more secure positions elsewhere, causing potential issues. They may even apply for different jobs with the intention of finding a more secure role. These factors can harm an organisation's output and lead to lower retention, thereby increasing overall expenditure through the hiring, onboarding, and training required to replace departing staff.

Conversely, employees with a strong sense of job security often provide benefits to an organisation as this can encourage investment in developing skills relevant to their role. Such employees may also demonstrate greater ambition and determination to achieve an organisation's projects and goals. Employees who feel secure and motivated are likely to be more committed, potentially increasing their output and contributing positively to an organisation's overall productivity and success.

How to provide job security to employees

It is important for organisations to actively provide job security to employees. This can be achieved in various ways - including encouraging a culture of development and providing clear aims for staff. Here are some ways organisations can utilise to support job security:

1. Clear goals

An organisation with clear goals may find it easier to communicate exactly what they expect of their employees. Targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) are effective ways to set goals within an organisation. This can improve job security as employees clearly understand what is expected of them – and builds confidence in their role.

2. Strong leadership

Strong leadership and effective management structures are crucial underpinnings to employee job security. It is important for employees to have respect and trust for overall management and their decision making. This builds confidence in the future of their organisation and leads to greater individual commitment to an organisation.

3. Feedback

Good communication within an organisation can be another important factor in building employee job security. As well as clearly defining expectations and vision, it is important for management to encourage feedback from employees. This demonstrates that they care about the ideas of employees and are interested in them developing within their role. Encouraging employees to actively think about their future and development can greatly improve their sense of job security.

4. Rewards

Monetary rewards - such as bonuses and salary increases - can improve job security for employees as it highlights their value and provides a clear pathway to success within an organisation. Ensuring what is required is understood in order to receive rewards helps employees focus on their role and develop the necessary skills and knowledge to improve their abilities.

5. Training

Investing in training, such as CPD, is a core method for organisations to improve employee job security. Supporting and promoting ongoing learning clearly displays to employees that their organisation values their development. It can also show ambition that their role will exist in the future. Employees that engage in learning and skills development will also improve their confidence and feel more effective and secure in their role.

Improving job security with CPD training

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the term used to describe the learning professionals engage in to develop and enhance their abilities throughout their career. CPD is a holistic approach to learning involving various methods such as training courses, events, workshops, seminars and online courses.

A commitment to CPD can provide employees and organisations with various benefits, and greatly improve individual job security. Some of the advantages include:

Increase productivity

A commitment to high quality training can provide employees with an array of new skills and knowledge that can help them to increase their overall productivity. Employees with high efficiency are often more likely to have strong job security as they feel effective and valuable within their role.

Further competence

Improving relevant competences through CPD participation can help employees complete their tasks faster and at a higher level. CPD can also help professionals specialise in their role, which can enable them to introduce valuable ideas and systems to an organisation. This will often increase an employee’s job security as they can see the results of their contributions.

Close skill gaps

Ongoing CPD is an effective way of closing skill gaps within an organisation. CPD offers opportunities to upskill in a given field and stay up to date with changes in industry standards or the development of new technologies. Employees with relevant and current skills will feel more valuable and can therefore lead to an increase in job security.

Diversify role

As well as engaging in CPD to develop specialised skills, professionals will also find opportunities to build key transferable skills. These skills can help employees diversify their role within an organisation, thereby contributing more value and subsequently feeing more secure in their job.

Career progression

Active CPD participation contributes to career progression, enhancing job security. By building skills and competencies through CPD, employees can take on more responsibilities and improve performance, positioning themselves for promotions. The CPD cycle helps individuals integrate and monitor effectiveness of learning, as well as its contribution to job performance and career advancement.

Cost Effective

CPD learning can often be a cost-effective option for both organisations and individuals. CPD courses and training are often affordable and easily accessible, offering professionals the chance to develop the skills that build job security without overextending their budget. This can be especially beneficial for smaller organisations who cannot invest in expensive, bespoke training programmes.

Culture of learning

Promoting CPD within an organisation instils a culture of learning. This makes growth and development proactive, encouraging individuals to seek opportunities for continuous improvement. A culture of ongoing development can create a virtuous cycle where employees feel secure. Moreover, the sharing of new knowledge and skills between peers can help to enhance the wider growth and development of the entire organisation.

How to become an accredited CPD provider

We hope this article was helpful. Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 27 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community where quality is both recognised and assured.

If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail. Alternatively, if you are looking for a free online CPD record tool to help manage, track and log your ongoing learning, as well as store your professional training records and attendance certificates in one simple place, go to the myCPD Portal page.