Training, clear communication could quell concerns about job security, workers say

Summary

A recent Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll (Sept. 10) suggests that training and clearer communication from senior leaders could reduce employees’ worries about job security. More than four in 10 workers said these steps would help. Employers report taking action — nearly 90% of hiring managers say their organisation has made moves to improve perceived job security, with upskilling frequently cited. Yet only about a third of workers feel leadership consistently shares information; roughly half say sharing is selective and 18% say leadership rarely shares.

Key Points

Over 40% of workers say training and clearer communication would ease their job‑security concerns.
Nearly 90% of hiring managers report their organisations are taking steps to boost job security perceptions, often via upskilling.
Only one‑third of employees believe leadership communicates consistently and transparently; 50% report selective sharing and 18% say leaders rarely share information.
Employee confidence is at a record low (Glassdoor); job‑security stress disrupts sleep and productivity and can raise turnover (APA research).
Middle managers experience higher job‑security stress, possibly because they absorb early rumours and mixed messages (Perceptyx).

Context and relevance

This story sits at the intersection of talent retention, learning and internal communications. With broader economic anxiety and frequent layoff chatter, simple HR levers — transparent updates and continuous skill development — look to be practical tools for reducing stress and protecting productivity. For HR teams and line managers, the findings reinforce investing in upskilling and clearer, more regular messaging as risk‑reduction strategies.

Author note

Punchy take: this isn’t rocket science. Employers saying they care about people’s jobs means little unless leaders actually share clear information and fund real training. Do both and you lessen fear, keep people productive and cut churn.

Why should I read this?

Short version: if you manage people or run HR, this is worth 90 seconds of your time. The article points to two low‑cost, high‑impact moves — clearer communication and upskilling — that actually shift worker anxiety and reduce the fallout of job‑security stress. Save yourself the drama downstream and act now.

Source

Source: https://www.hrdive.com/news/communicate-training-job-security-confidence/760236/