Addressing the issue will be a matter of survival for 83% of companies
In our report last week, we outlined 30 of the most bankable skills employers will be looking for in job candidates this year.
“These are the skills your boss and your boss’s boss find most valuable, but have a hard time finding,” said LinkedIn Learning editor Paul Petrone, who led the analysis. “Skills that’ll most help you better serve your clients and customers.”
Indeed, finding the right talent today will be a matter of survival in the changing world of work, according to executives surveyed by the Association for Talent Development (ATD).
Eight in 10 businesses (83%) report they are currently experiencing a skills gap, while a similar percentage (78%) is anticipating a deficit in the future, the report showed.
According to ATD, the biggest demand now and in the future will be for the following soft skills:
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Leadership
“Survey results show reason to be concerned about a succession planning crisis. It appears that organisations aren’t effective at preparing people for senior leader positions,” ATD said in a press release.
“Half of respondents said their companies had insufficient leadership bench strength, and 47% said they expect a gap of leadership or executive-level skills in the future.”
Moreover, this gap is impacting the service delivery, customers, and future growth of nearly three in four companies.
“The talent development function has seen an increased role in addressing skills gaps since 2015, and there is now more accountability for individual managers,” ATD said.
“However, success in identifying and closing skills gaps depends on the involvement of key stakeholders across the organisation.”
