Wed Sep 25 03:30:17 UTC 2024: ## Skills Gap Threatens Workforce Confidence and Productivity, Skillsoft Survey Reveals
**[City, State] – [Date]** – A new survey by Skillsoft, a leading provider of corporate learning solutions, reveals a concerning skills gap among employees, with 35% lacking confidence in their ability to succeed in their roles. This lack of confidence is further fueled by 41% of employees expressing concerns about job security due to skill deficiencies.
The survey, which polled a representative sample of employees across various industries, identified leadership skills as the most critical for success in today’s workplace, followed by soft skills, technology skills, and AI/machine learning skills. While employees recognized the importance of leadership skills, 31% acknowledged it as their biggest skill gap, with AI/machine learning skills trailing closely at 43%.
“This data highlights a significant issue: one-third of the workforce is questioning if they have the right skills to excel in their roles,” said Ciara Harrington, CPO of Skillsoft. “These skill gaps hold workers back from reaching their full potential and can hinder organizations in achieving their key business objectives.”
Despite 95% of surveyed employees reporting their organization has a talent development program, only 25% deem it highly effective. Lack of time, learning formats, and leadership support emerged as the primary obstacles.
To bridge these gaps, employees are seeking a blended learning approach incorporating online courses, interactive experiences, and live instructor-led training.
“Effective learning programs take a blended, multimodal approach that goes beyond building skills and drives measurable improvements in job performance and behavioral change on a continuous basis,” continued Harrington.
Despite the rise of GenAI tools, only 28% of employees rated their organization’s leadership skills training as “excellent,” with soft skills training receiving a similar low rating.
Recognizing the importance of adaptability, 82% of respondents indicated their organization is transitioning to a skills-based talent development model. However, only 19% receive regular skill assessments, a crucial component of this strategy.
Organizations are urged to adopt holistic and interactive learning solutions to empower talent and build crucial skills, ensuring a skilled, agile workforce ready to embrace emerging technologies and meet the demands of a dynamic workplace.
First Piper 