What is a training matrix?

A training matrix is a tool used by organizations to track and manage employee training and skill development. It is a visual representation that lists employees and the training programs they have completed or need to complete. This matrix helps in identifying skill gaps, ensuring compliance, and planning future training initiatives.

What are the key components of a training matrix?

The key components of a training matrix are:

• Employee details (names or identifiers, department, role, etc.)
• List of training programs or courses
• Deadline for completing training activities
• Training status (completed, pending, overdue)
• Skill levels or competencies achieved

These components provide a comprehensive overview of the training landscape within an organization.

What are the objectives of a training matrix in HR?

A training matrix in HR serves as a strategic tool for systematically managing and enhancing an organization’s training and development efforts.

This clear and organized framework for tracking employee training needs and progress helps ensure the workforce has the necessary skills and knowledge to meet organizational goals.

Identifying and documenting training needs

An employee training matrix pinpoints and records the specific training requirements for each role within the organization. This ensures that all training efforts are targeted and relevant, reducing the risk of redundant or unnecessary training programs.

By identifying gaps early, the organization can proactively address skill deficiencies and ensure that employees have the competencies to perform their roles effectively.

Meeting compliance and regulatory requirements

A training matrix helps organizations meet compliance and regulatory requirements by ensuring that employees complete mandatory training programs. It provides a documented record of training activities, which can be crucial during audits or inspections. Organizations can proactively address compliance issues and avoid potential fines or legal consequences by tracking training completion and certification expiration dates.

Additionally, consistent training across the organization ensures that all employees are on the same page and promotes a uniform understanding of procedures and standards.

Supporting remote work and virtual training

A training matrix can support remote work and virtual training by providing a centralized, accessible platform to track all training needs and progress. It ensures that remote employees are aware of required training, can access virtual training sessions, and their progress can be monitored efficiently.

The matrix provides immediate visibility into training status, helping ensure that all employees, regardless of location, stay on track with their development goals.

Enhancing employee development

A training matrix enhances employee development by providing a clear overview of completed and pending training. It helps managers and HR professionals identify skill gaps and create personalized development plans.

By systematically tracking training progress, organizations can ensure that employees acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their roles effectively, leading to improved job performance and career growth.

Example: If a team lacks advanced data analysis skills, the matrix will show which employees need training in this area.

The matrix also allows for continuous training progress monitoring, ensuring that employees develop the required competencies over time.

Complimentary resources:

• 70-20-10 Employee Development Plan Template

• Skills Gap Analysis Template

Supporting career development

A training matrix is instrumental in aligning employee development with career paths within the organization. It helps map out employees’ career progression. The matrix outlines the skills and competencies employees require to perform various roles, helping employees understand what they need to develop to advance their careers.

Complimentary resources:

• Vertical vs. Lateral Career Growth: What’s The Difference?
• Workforce Planning: 5 Scalable Strategies for Growing Global Teams

How can organizations measure the effectiveness of their training programs using a training matrix?

Organizations can use a training matrix to measure the effectiveness of their training programs. By analyzing training completion rates, employee performance improvements, and feedback from training participants, HR professionals can identify which training programs are most effective and which may need adjustments.

Additionally, the matrix can help correlate training completion with key performance indicators (KPIs), such as productivity, quality of work, and employee retention rates.

What is the difference between a training matrix and a skills matrix?

A training matrix focuses on tracking employees' training and development activities, detailing the courses and programs they need to complete.

In contrast, a skills matrix maps out employees’ skills and competencies, showing what skills they possess and what is required for their current and future roles.

While a training matrix tracks training completion, a skills matrix assesses skill levels and identifies gaps in the workforce.

Complimentary resources:

• How to Create a Skills Matrix for Your Teams in 9 Steps
• Free Skills Matrix Template

How do you create a training matrix?

To create a training matrix, follow these steps:

• Identify training requirements: Determine the necessary training programs for each role within the organization
• List employees: Include all employees who need to undergo training—include their names, departments, roles, and people managers
• Create a grid: Design a grid with employees listed in rows and training programs listed in columns
• Add deadlines: Define the deadlines for completing the training courses
• Fill in the matrix: Mark the training status for each employee, indicating whether they have completed, are in progress, or have not started the training
• Update regularly: Keep the matrix updated with new training sessions, completions, and progress

To keep your matrix well organized, divide the training programs by themes or topics, such as:

• Mandatory training, such as IT security, data protection, and DEI training
• Role-based training, such as negotiation training for a sales role
• Technical skills training, such as Jira and Lookerstudio training

And for additional insights, add formulas to calculate automatically:

• Total training assignments: Calculate the total number of training assignments per employee and skill
• Training completion rate by course: Calculate the total number of completions out of the total number of assignments
• Average training pass rate: Calculate how many employees passed their training out of the total training assignments

Our training matrix template calculates all of these and more. Download the free training matrix template.

You will also find extensive information on interpreting the results and follow-up suggestions.

How can a training matrix be customized to meet specific business needs?

Customize the training matrix to meet specific business needs by:

• Adding role-specific training requirements and competencies
• Including industry-specific compliance and regulatory training
• Incorporating soft skills and professional development courses
• Creating department-specific training matrices to address unique needs
• Setting priority levels for different training programs based on business goals
• Customization ensures that the training matrix aligns with the organization’s strategic objectives and addresses the unique needs of different teams

Watch the webinar: Connecting Performance, Learning, and Career Development with Deel Engage

Enhance employee training with Deel Enage

Enhance the functionality of your training matrix by automating data entry, tracking, and reporting processes with Deel Engage:

• Automatically enroll employees in specific training courses based on their roles and levels
• Create training certification training
• Customize the conditions for passing training courses (e.g., by using quizzes with a specific number of retakes and a specific pass score)
• Integrate training data seamlessly
• Track training completion
• Send automated reminders for completing training before the deadline
• Collect insights into training effectiveness
• Use AI to personalize training recommendations for employees
• Use performance feedback and desired career paths to inform new training assignments

Additionally, Deel HR, our truly global HRIS solution, is always included for free.

Book a demo to see how our solutions will help you build a high-performance workforce.