Everything changed in $2020.$ Seemingly overnight, companies were forced to abandon their offices, and their staff had to adapt to the challenges of working from home. More unfortunate were those whose jobs were wiped out as their companies downsized or shut down entirely. Those that survived the year with their jobs intact should not, however, rest on their laurels. If nothing else, $2020$ underlined the importance of workers staying flexible and reskilling themselves as the business environment around them changes. But that is not the only thing that changed. Companies also have an increasingly wide array of options available when it comes to reskilling their employees. Powered by technology, these options won$$t disappear going into $2021,$ even as Covid$-19$ vaccines are rolled out and life returns to something more like a pre$-$pandemic normal. Here are the trends that will shape employee skills development and training in $2021.1.$ Digital learning continues its acceleration In $2019,$ online learning was already a nearly$-$US$$200-$billion industry and was projected to be worth $$320-$billion by $2025.$ Thanks to the events of $2020,$ we may reach that second figure sooner than anticipated. With physical events cancelled and businesses having to meet their skills development targets on smaller budgets, many turned to online training and certification. While it may have been a necessity in $2020,$ employees and management alike have been sold on its benefits. As well as reduced travel, accommodation, and overall costs, these include less time away from the office and families. All of which, in turn, results in happier, mo$.$ Considering the above article, critically discuss the future of learning and development.