[2026 Survey] Interpersonal Skills as a Competitive Edge in the AI Era: Human Academy Announces Corporate Training Trends
Human Academy's 2026 survey reveals that communication training remains the top priority for 66% of companies despite the rise of AI. While human capital disclosure is spreading to SMEs, many organizations struggle with resource shortages, including lack of personnel, time, and limited budgets.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 14:40 (8 min after Collected)
## Corporate Training Survey Results 2026
Human Academy Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku, Tokyo; President: Tomonobu Tanaka) conducted a survey on the current state and initiatives of corporate training. The survey collected valid responses from 300 HR and training professionals between March 25 and 27, 2026.
### Key Highlights
- **Communication training** remains the #1 theme (66%), consistent with the 2024 survey.
- **Resource shortages** are a complex challenge: 62% of companies have a training budget of less than 100,000 JPY per person, alongside shortages in personnel and time.
- **Visualization of human capital** is expanding to SMEs following the mandatory disclosure for listed companies, linking employee skill development with management strategies.
### Background of the Survey
The business environment is changing rapidly. Since the March 2023 fiscal year, approximately 4,000 listed companies have been required to disclose human capital information. This has made it urgent to visualize the value of employee development in alignment with management strategy. This trend is now reaching SMEs. Additionally, the proliferation of generative AI and accelerated DX are diversifying and elevating the skills required of employees. This survey aims to grasp these evolving needs.
### Survey Summary
- **Conducted by:** Marketing Communications Co., Ltd.
- **Target:** HR and training professionals in private companies
- **Period:** March 25–27, 2026
- **Method:** Web survey
- **Respondents:** 300
### Detailed Results
1. **Communication training remains #1**
At 66%, communication training was the top theme for the second consecutive year. It is also the top theme companies wish to strengthen in the future (42%), showing high interest in interpersonal skills.
2. **Compliance training exceeds 70% across all years**
While communication training is particularly focused on new hires (91%), compliance and harassment training are implemented consistently across all employee levels (70%+), ensuring company-wide awareness.
3. **Complex challenges: People, Time, and Money**
Only 18% of respondents feel their current training has room for improvement, while 32% were 'unsure,' indicating difficulty in judging effectiveness. Key challenges include shortage of personnel (40%), lack of time (38%), and limited budget/know-how (35% each).
4. **Future focus: Mental Health & Resilience**
Communication training remains the top priority for future enhancement (42%). Notably, 'Mental Health and Resilience' training rose to 5th place (33%), reflecting new corporate concerns in the post-AI landscape.
Human Academy Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku, Tokyo; President: Tomonobu Tanaka) conducted a survey on the current state and initiatives of corporate training. The survey collected valid responses from 300 HR and training professionals between March 25 and 27, 2026.
### Key Highlights
- **Communication training** remains the #1 theme (66%), consistent with the 2024 survey.
- **Resource shortages** are a complex challenge: 62% of companies have a training budget of less than 100,000 JPY per person, alongside shortages in personnel and time.
- **Visualization of human capital** is expanding to SMEs following the mandatory disclosure for listed companies, linking employee skill development with management strategies.
### Background of the Survey
The business environment is changing rapidly. Since the March 2023 fiscal year, approximately 4,000 listed companies have been required to disclose human capital information. This has made it urgent to visualize the value of employee development in alignment with management strategy. This trend is now reaching SMEs. Additionally, the proliferation of generative AI and accelerated DX are diversifying and elevating the skills required of employees. This survey aims to grasp these evolving needs.
### Survey Summary
- **Conducted by:** Marketing Communications Co., Ltd.
- **Target:** HR and training professionals in private companies
- **Period:** March 25–27, 2026
- **Method:** Web survey
- **Respondents:** 300
### Detailed Results
1. **Communication training remains #1**
At 66%, communication training was the top theme for the second consecutive year. It is also the top theme companies wish to strengthen in the future (42%), showing high interest in interpersonal skills.
2. **Compliance training exceeds 70% across all years**
While communication training is particularly focused on new hires (91%), compliance and harassment training are implemented consistently across all employee levels (70%+), ensuring company-wide awareness.
3. **Complex challenges: People, Time, and Money**
Only 18% of respondents feel their current training has room for improvement, while 32% were 'unsure,' indicating difficulty in judging effectiveness. Key challenges include shortage of personnel (40%), lack of time (38%), and limited budget/know-how (35% each).
4. **Future focus: Mental Health & Resilience**
Communication training remains the top priority for future enhancement (42%). Notably, 'Mental Health and Resilience' training rose to 5th place (33%), reflecting new corporate concerns in the post-AI landscape.
FAQ
Why is communication training prioritized in the AI era?
As AI automates routine tasks, human-specific interpersonal skills like negotiation and empathy are being redefined as a critical competitive edge for businesses.
How is human capital disclosure evolving in SMEs?
Following the mandate for listed companies, SMEs are increasingly disclosing employee development data to improve their standing with clients and in the recruitment market.
What are the trends for effective training within limited budgets?
With many budgets under 100k yen per person, companies focus on face-to-face sessions for key groups (e.g., new hires) and efficient organization-wide compliance programs.