In-depth research into the state of talent development that will help organizations and employees remain agile, competitive, and successful.
Skillsoft's State of Enterprise Skilling Research
THE Skills Gap:
Top 5 Skillsets Learners Consider Most Important for Success in Today’s Workplace
Leadership Skills
Power Skills
AI/Machine
Learning Skills
Role-specific Skills
Technical Skills
23%
23%
22%
15%
9%
Top 5 Skillsets Learners Are Lacking in Today’s Workplace
AI/Machine
Learning Skills
Technical Skills
Leadership Skills
Power Skills
Risk Management
Skills
25%
31%
34%
43%
25%
45%
44%
42%
27%
Respondents in managerial roles
Gen Z respondents
Millennial respondents
Respondents in leadership roles
The Impact of Skill Gaps on Confidence and Job SecuritY
TALENT DEVELOPMENT Program Efficacy
25%
Respondents consider their organization’s current learning and development programs highly effective
62%
Respondents rated their organization's AI training as average to poor
31%
Respondents rated their organization’s power skills training as excellent
28%
Respondents rated their organization’s leadership skills training as excellent
Top Barriers to Building SKILLS
Lack of Time
Lack of Training Options
or Formats
Poor Support
From Leadership
Lack of Relevant Training
Content or Course Material
Lack of Budget
26%
26%
30%
42%
24%
MOST Popular Skill Assessment Options
Annual Performance
Reviews
Assessments After
Learning
Self-Assessments
Checkpoint Assessments
During Learning
Job Simulations and
Project Evaluations
27%
32%
33%
56%
23%
How Often Are Skills Being Assessed
Quarterly
Ongoing/Regularly
Monthly
Annually
Bi-annually
18%
18%
19%
25%
10%
Most Requested Talent Development Program Improvements
Online, Video-based Training
Interactive / Experiential Training
Live, Instructor Led Training
Group Training
Mentorship
33%
37%
37%
39%
32%
28%
18%
16%
16%
15%
Providing Skill and Role-Based Learning Paths
Not Transitioning
Performing a Skills Gap Analysis
Implementing a Skills Taxonomy
Implementing Pre, Mid, and Post-training Skills Assessments
How Organizations Will Transition to a Skill-based Model
SKILLSOFT.COM
Skillsoft surveyed 2,500 professionals globally to evaluate the importance of skills.
Respondents recognized various skills as critical to their success on the job. However, there is a significant gap between the skills they deem essential and those they currently possess. This gap has left many feeling insecure about their abilities and anxious to close them.
This research highlights the importance of a holistic approach to building skills, addressing both current deficiencies and future needs, to ensure employees remain well-rounded and adaptable.
Employees' opinions of “success” in the workplace highlight the need for comprehensive and holistic development programs to stay competitive and effective.
Top Skills Being Prioritized Due to The Rise of Generative AI Tools
Despite their importance, gaps in key areas are prevalent, indicating an urgent need for targeted training initiatives.
Over a third of respondents lack confidence that their skillset will allow them to succeed in their roles. A significant portion of the workforce — 41% — is worried about job security due to skill gaps, and this concern is prevalent across various groups.
Talent Development Programs
Skillsoft’s research found effective Learning and Development (L&D) programs are crucial yet often fall short of employee expectations. Many workers feel their current training, particularly in AI and leadership skills, is inadequate, citing barriers such as time constraints, limited training options, and poor support from leadership.
To bridge these gaps, organizations must adopt a more holistic approach to skill building. This includes investing in diverse and engaging training formats like interactive, experiential, and video-based sessions and fostering a culture of continuous learning through regular assessments and mentorship opportunities.
Our research highlights a critical need for organizations to improve their training strategies to better support employee growth and readiness.
The demand for diverse and engaging training tools indicates that organizations should diversify their training methods to better support professional development. Employees want more opportunities in the following areas:
Despite respondents’ interest in building skills, barriers like lack of time and budget require organizations to rethink L&D programs so they’re ingrained in day-to-day business practices.
While annual performance reviews are the most common, adopting more continuous assessment methods can lead to better skill development outcomes.
The trend toward more regular skill assessments shows a growing recognition that ongoing evaluation is crucial for maintaining a competitive and capable workforce.
Providing skill- and role-based learning paths is becoming popular. However, more continuous efforts, such as skills gap analyses and comprehensive assessments, are necessary for a full transition to a skill-based model.
What Comes Next?
Diversify Training Formats
Promote Continuous Learning
Enhance Leadership Support
Tailor Learning Paths
Address Key Barriers
Implement blend of on-demand, instructor-led, and interactive development opportunities.
Conduct regular skill assessments.
Engage leaders in L&D initiatives.
Develop role-specific training programs.
Allocate budget and flexible schedules.
Learn more about this research on our Skillsoft blog
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Research Methodology:
Skillsoft’s research survey was conducted online in July 2024 through the Pollfish platform. The survey yielded 2,500 complete responses from full-time workers across various industries and roles in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and India.
MANY FEEL UNEASY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE
Learn more about this research on our Skillsoft blog