New report finds significant skills gaps in AI, leadership, technology
Employers should consider putting skills at the centre of their business strategy as a new report warned that widening skills gaps are jeopardising organisational growth.
Skillsoft's 2025 Global Skills Intelligence Survey polled a thousand HR professionals in the US, the UK, Germany, and Australia to find that 28% of them believe skills gaps limit their ability to expand into new markets or opportunities.
According to the report, the most significant skills shortages are in leadership, artificial intelligence, and technology.
"The gaps aren't in small, niche areas — they're in leadership, AI, and core technical skills," the report read. "These are the exact areas companies need to thrive in a rapidly changing economy."
Only 10% of HR and Learning and Development professionals surveyed in the report also said they are fully confident that their workforce can deliver on business goals in the next 12 to 24 months.
"That's a red flag. It means most leaders are aiming for outcomes their workforce isn't ready to deliver," the report read.
Lack of visibility
The issue stems from the lack of visibility from leadership, according to the report.
Nine in 10 (91%) HR professionals said their employees are overstating their skill proficiency, particularly on AI, leadership, and technical domains.
Only 18% also said they measure employees' skills throughout the talent development journey.
"That means most organisations are guessing when it comes to capability," the report read. "Leaders think they have the skills to deliver on big initiatives, only to find out mid-project that their teams can't execute."
This skill overstatement can have a variety of results, including worsening skill gaps (36%), reducing productivity (34%), and increasing manager stress (31%).
"Leaders cannot close gaps they cannot see. Skills intelligence—consistent, reliable measurement tied to strategic goals—is the foundation for aligning workforce capability with business outcomes," the report read.
A wake-up call for organisations
Additionally, the report revealed that current talent strategies and development programmes are also outdated and disconnected from workplace outcomes.
Just 20% of organisations believe their talent strategies are aligned with organisational goals, while only 24% are using a consolidated platform approach that provides a clear view on workforce capability.
"These findings should be a wake-up call for every leader. Skills gaps are already impeding growth, and traditional approaches to talent development are only worsening the issue," said Ciara Harrington, Chief People Officer, Skillsoft, in a statement.
"To compete in today's human-AI world, organisations must place skills at the centre of their strategy and evolve toward integrated platforms that connect learning, skills intelligence, and performance in a single place, unlocking a workforce ready for change and innovation."
