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Upskilling may be the answer to hiring and engagement woes

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Summary

Nearly a quarter of U.S. employers are facing a major skills gap in their company, according to a Salary.com report. Reasons for the skills gap include technology, employee turnover, and labor shortages. To address it, employers are investing in employee learning and development initiatives, focusing on “soft skills” that generative AI doesn’t cover, and conducting skills-based hiring. Skills such as effective communication, problem solving, critical thinking, attention to detail, and analytical thinking are in high demand. HR professionals are focusing on these skills, both in skills-based hiring and upskilling initiatives, to address the skills gap.

Q&As

What percentage of U.S. employers are facing a major skills gap?
Nearly a quarter of U.S. employers are facing a major skills gap.

What are the three top reasons for the current and developing skills gap?
The three top reasons for the current and developing skills gap are technology, employee turnover and labor shortages.

What type of initiatives are organizations investing in to address the skills gap?
Organizations are investing in employee learning and development initiatives.

What are the top five in-demand skills?
The top five in-demand skills are effective communication (65%), problem solving (55%), critical thinking (47%), attention to detail (43%) and analytical thinking (41%).

What steps are employers taking to address the skills gap?
Employers are taking steps such as upskilling and reskilling, conducting skills-based hiring, reworking job descriptions, tweaking their hiring requirements, conducting a skills inventory audit, and creating career pathways.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an important insight into the need for employers to upskill their teams in order to address the skills gap and ensure their business remains competitive.

👎 The article fails to address the potential cost implications of upskilling and reskilling initiatives, which could be a major barrier for employers.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how nearly a quarter of U.S. employers are facing a major skills gap in their company, and another 42% say it will hit them within the next two years. In response, many organizations are investing in employee learning and development initiatives to try and close the skills gap.

Friend: That's really interesting. It seems like upskilling is becoming a key focus for employers in order to retain and engage their workforce.

Me: Absolutely. It's important for employers to recognize the changing labor market and the need for employees to have the right skills and knowledge to stay competitive. They can do this by investing in upskilling and reskilling initiatives, conducting skills-based hiring, reworking job descriptions, and tweaking their hiring requirements. It's also important to conduct a skills inventory audit to identify any potential gaps.

Action items

Conduct a skills inventory audit to identify the skills gaps in your organization.
Invest in employee learning and development initiatives to upskill and reskill employees.
Focus on “human” cognitive skills such as problem solving, creativity, originality, imagination and the ability to learn when hiring and upskilling.

Technical terms

Upskilling: The process of teaching employees new skills or improving existing skills to increase their value to the organization.
Skills Gap: The difference between the skills that employers need and the skills that employees have.
Generative AI: Artificial intelligence that can generate new content or ideas based on existing data.
Soft Skills: Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.
Skills-Based Hiring: A recruitment process that focuses on the skills and abilities of the candidate rather than their experience or qualifications.
Reskilling: The process of teaching employees new skills to help them transition to a different job or industry.
Apprenticeships: A type of job training that combines on-the-job experience with classroom instruction.