Employee Growth
Published 09/12/2025
Why Your Employees Forget 80% of Their Training (And How To Fix It)
Uncover why employees forget 80% of training content and learn evidence-based strategies to improve learning retention with LoonaLabs.
By Danica Nakpil
Content Strategist
Your POV
You've invested heavily in training programs, carefully crafted content, and delivered engaging sessions.
Yet, within days, most of your employees remember only a fraction of what they learned.
This isn't just frustrating—it's expensive.
But before you blame yourself, your team, or your training materials—let's explore what science tells us about this and, more importantly, how to fix it.
Your Training's Biggest Enemy – The Forgetting Curve
Hermann Ebbinghaus wasn't joking when he discovered the “Forgetting Curve” in the 1880s.
His research, since validated by modern neuroscience, shows that we forget approximately 80% of what we learn within 30 days—unless we take specific steps to counter this natural process.
But why does this happen? Recent neuroscience research points to three main culprits:
- Cognitive Overload Our working memory can only handle about 4-7 pieces of new information at once; traditional training often overwhelms this capacity, leading to poor information encoding.
- Lack of Context The brain stores information better when it can connect it to existing knowledge and real-world applications.
- Insufficient Reinforcement Without regular review and application, neural pathways weaken, making information harder to recall.
How to Make Training Stick
To help your team retain training, here are some ways to do it:
Spacing Effect – Time is Your Friend
Research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology shows that spacing learning over time can increase retention by up to 200%. Here's how to implement this:
- Break training into smaller modules
- Space sessions days or weeks apart
- Include regular refresh sessions
- Use microlearning for reinforcement
Active Recall – The Testing Effect
Studies from cognitive psychology demonstrate that testing isn't just for assessment—it's a powerful learning tool. Employees who regularly test their knowledge retain up to 50% more information.
Practical implementation:
- Include quick quizzes between modules
- Use scenario-based questions
- Implement regular knowledge checks
- Encourage self-testing
Contextual Learning – Making it Relevant
The University of California found that learning in context increases retention by 40%. To achieve this:
- Use real workplace scenarios
- Implement immediate practical applications
- Create role-specific examples
- Enable on-the-job practice
The Secret to Effective Training – Less Is More
The best training isn’t about how much information you give—
it’s about how well employees absorb and apply it.
- Shorter, structured learning leads to better retention.
- Microlearning improves engagement and saves time.
- AI-powered training personalises learning for better results.
The future of workplace training isn’t more—it’s smarter.
Final Thoughts
Understanding why employees forget is just the first step.
The real challenge and opportunity lies in implementing these scientific insights in a practical, sustainable way.
While the 80% forgetting rate might seem daunting, science offers clear solutions. By understanding and working with our brain's natural learning processes, we can dramatically improve training retention and ROI.
Remember: The goal isn't to fight against how our brains naturally work, but to align our training methods with our cognitive processes. When we do this, not only do employees retain more, but they also enjoy learning more—creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Talk with us and let us help you with your training woes! Book a consultation now.
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