Training departments could see big changes in 2008.  One reason is due to the strength of the U.S. economy.  Already this year we are seeing record increases in fuel costs which ultimately trickle down and increase the costs of our consumer goods.  How does this affect training?  During past economic downturns, corporate spending has been put on hold, sometimes preventing training departments from getting the dollars needed to properly train employees.   To prevent this from happening, training departments can do a few things.  First, they can show how past employee training had a direct effect on the overall organization.  For example, did training lead to a more efficient, productive workforce, thus leading to a increased profits?  Second, was the highly skilled workforce so efficient that additional labor costs were not incurred?  And third, do well-trained employees mean better workforce retention, saving valuable time and money on new-hires? These are just a few observations that I have seen in the training industry in the last few years.  Going forward, I believe that these are important goals for training departments to consider and may ultimately help to recession-proof the training organization.