David H. Deans’ Post

The skills gap is costing the U.S. economy a whopping $1.3 trillion a year. With jobs evolving at an unprecedented pace, it’s time to bridge this #skillsgap. See what employers can do to source candidates with in-demand skills and overcome the challenges to build a more resilient and competitive workforce. https://hubs.li/Q02q7CKZ0

50% of employees will need to acquire new skills in the near future to stay competitive. This is no small challenge, especially when you consider that 48% of businesses currently identify a skills and talent deficit as their primary concern over the next three years. What separates the top-performing companies from the rest is their approach to this skills gap. While many companies may delay or downplay the importance of skills development, the world's leading organizations are actively leveraging this challenge to innovate and empower their workforce, ensuring their success in a transforming landscape. It's not just the traditionally low-skilled jobs that are facing automation risks; even sectors like finance and healthcare are feeling the pressure. This underscores the critical importance of skills transformation across all levels and industries. 🌟 Here’s why every worker needs to prioritize continuous skill development: Stay Competitive: The landscape of industries is shifting, and staying updated with relevant skills is the only way to keep up. Career Growth: Skills transformation opens up new avenues for advancement and career development. Strategies to Make Your Workforce Future-ready: Promote Upskilling and Reskilling: Equip your employees with the tools to master new skills and adapt to new roles. Cultivate a Culture of Collaboration: Encourage teamwork and knowledge sharing to enhance learning. Implement Lifelong Learning: Make learning an ongoing process at every stage of an employee’s career. Empower Employees: Let employees take the lead in their learning journeys to boost engagement and retention. Provide Continuous Support: Regular guidance and support are crucial in helping employees navigate their skill development. Develop a Skills Tree: Visualize and plan the skills progression needed for various roles within your organization. The future is unpredictable, but one thing is clear: the skills transformation journey is essential for both individual and organizational success. #SkillsDevelopment #FutureOfWork #CareerGrowth #TalentManagement

𝐈𝐧 2025, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡-𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?! Hold on, before you read on, take a look at the picture below. What do you see? This study was conducted by the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report in 2020. It highlights that: 🔷50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025, as the adoption of technology increases. 🔷Critical thinking and problem-solving are at the top of the skills list (both in frequency and ranking). 🔷Newly emerging are skills in self-management such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance, and flexibility. Furthermore, there's something that caught my attention right from the start: 𝐈𝐬 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓? (since it only appears once, and at a rather low ranking) Doesn't this contradict the fact that humans are social beings, and all human activities, especially in the workplace, seem to revolve around this? The issue may stem from Technological Integration and Automation, as well as the trend towards Remote Work and Digital Communication, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. 🔶While working-with-people skills only occupy one position in the top 10, I believe that if you can master these skills, it will make you a standout candidate and be a shortcut to advancing more quickly up the career ladder. Don't neglect it! 🔶Start building your reskilling strategy TODAY, focusing on problem-solving, analysis, and critical thinking skills, while concurrently developing self-management skills such as active learning, stress tolerance, and flexibility. Then, showcase these skills in your resume and LinkedIn profile to make it more competitive. What do you think about this change? Feel free to share your thoughts below! Source: World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2020 #skills #PersonalDevelopment #LearningStrategy

💡 The connection in these data points is interesting. One report finds that 66% of employees agree they need to acquire new #skills while another report finds 96% of young respondents believe they can succeed in the coming year with their current skill set. 🤔 What ties them together for me is that 1 in 3 #employers say the current shelf life of #hardskills is under 2 years. 📉 Meaning, the younger #workforce is coming in more equipped with #relevant skills but will soon need to reconcile the weight of #resilient skills. On the other hand, the tenured workforce is acutely aware of the need for #upskilling to keep up with change. So much so that 41% said they would leave for a new role if not provided #learning #opportunities 🤯 https://lnkd.in/gkJQehAz

🔍 Future Skills: Insights from Experts on the Most Sought-After Skills by 2024 Experts foresee key skills employers will prioritize in 2024: 1. Soft Skills: Emphasis on leadership, customer service, and essential people skills for success, regardless of technical ability. 2. Adaptability and Resilience: Ability to adjust to change swiftly and bounce back from setbacks in a rapidly evolving job market. 3. Productivity Amid Uncertainty: Staying productive in challenging environments amidst global changes like climate shifts and health crises. 4. Collaboration Skills: Effective cross-channel communication enabling teamwork and innovation, crucial in an increasingly automated landscape. 5. Excellent Communication: Highlighting the importance of being an adept communicator and listener in a screen-centric world. 6. AI Proficiency: Anticipating the demand for proficiency in AI platforms, crucial for driving innovation and efficiency. Organizations are gearing up by focusing on training, soft skills, and specialized programs to prepare candidates for these sought-after skills. #Recruto #FutureSkills #Employability

The first step in starting a new business, or even a side gig, is working out what skills you have. Do you know? Here's some ideas. The terms “hard” and “soft” skills are not necessarily outdated, but they are becoming less commonly used in modern workplace discussions. The main reason for this is that the traditional categorization of skills as either hard or soft does not fully capture the complexity of skills that are valued in today’s job market. #startuplife #StartUpSuccess #4P #smallbusinessbigdreams https://lnkd.in/gz6kTyNz

Our recent poll reveals... 🥁 Analytical and creative thinking are the top skills required for supporting business activities in the future! And interestingly, our results echo the findings of the latest WEF report, Future of Jobs Survey 2023. Learning should be a priority for improved career development, retention, and growth. A theme our CEO and founder explores in his last featured article “The retention struggle: How to do more with learning and development” shared by FE News 👇🏽 https://hubs.li/Q02nf8M00 #talentacquisition #careerdevelopment #talentretention

Let's discuss the most valuable assets and skills employers seek in 2024. As the job market evolves, so do the skills and assets that employers prioritize. In 2024, the most valuable assets and skills encompass a blend of technological proficiency, emotional intelligence, leadership capabilities, sustainability awareness, and adaptability to digital work environments. Employers are looking for candidates who can navigate the complexities of modern business, drive innovation, and contribute to a positive and sustainable work culture. By cultivating these skills, professionals can enhance their employability and thrive in the dynamic job market. Read the full article and start developing these valuable skills and assets today. You can enhance your employability and thrive in the dynamic job market by taking action now: https://lnkd.in/gR5h_2Qm #FutureOfWork #CareerDevelopment #TechSkills #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Sustainability #RemoteWork #Innovation #JobMarket2024 #ProfessionalGrowth

In the rapidly evolving job market, the ability to adapt is becoming increasingly crucial. For U.S. employees, this means that upskilling and reskilling are no longer just options, but necessities. A recent report revealed that approximately 40% of workers will require reskilling in six months or less. This statistic underscores the urgency of the situation. The job market is changing at an unprecedented pace, and employees must keep up or risk being left behind. Moreover, 94% of business leaders expect their employees to pick up new skills on the job, up from 65% in 2018. This indicates a shift in employer expectations. Continuous learning and adaptability are becoming integral parts of the job description. The need for upskilling and reskilling is not limited to certain industries or job roles. It is widespread and pervasive. A McKinsey global survey found that nine in ten executives and managers are either already facing skills gaps in their organizations or expect gaps to develop within the next five years. The impact of these skills gaps is significant. One-third of the surveyed managers said their companies aren’t even able to cope with workplace disruptions from technological and market changes. This highlights the importance of upskilling and reskilling not just for individual employees, but for the overall health and competitiveness of businesses. Interestingly, the drive to upskill and reskill is not just coming from employers. Employees themselves are recognizing the need to continuously learn and adapt. In fact, 42% of employees have pursued training on their own after the coronavirus outbreak. The benefits of upskilling and reskilling are clear. 91% of companies and 81% of employees say upskilling and reskilling training has boosted productivity at work. Moreover, more than six out of ten employers expect a return on investment from upskilling and reskilling within a year. In conclusion, the need for upskilling and reskilling among U.S. employees is both urgent and widespread. It is a necessity in today’s dynamic job market. By embracing continuous learning and adaptability, employees can not only keep up with the changes but also seize new opportunities and drive their careers forward. #workplace #workforce #corporate #business #training #learninganddevelopment

The Future of Jobs Report by the World Economic Forum highlights continuous learning as a critical skill for the workforce of the future (https://lnkd.in/dH2Tvg8S). In saying that I often find that there is a mindset in organisations where some employees believe they've learned all they need to know.   But why the fear of resistance? Fear of the unknown Feeling undervalued Time constraints   This can hinder individual growth and ultimately hurt the company's competitiveness.   So how can you support upskilling?   Focus on "why" not just "what" - clearly explain how new skills benefit the employee (career advancement!) and the company (increased efficiency!).   Microlearning & bite-sized training - cater to busy schedules with short, engaging learning modules.   Mentorship programs - pair experienced workers with those learning new skills. Peer support builds confidence.   Highlight success stories - showcase how upskilled colleagues have thrived.   Leadership Endorsement - drive a culture of learning from the top down. When leaders endorse and participate in ongoing learning initiatives, it sets a powerful example for the organisation.   Investing in your workforce isn't just the right thing to do, it's good business.   If you need help developing your learning strategy, please get in touch - I’d be happy to advise > > > https://lnkd.in/eCpD7wXX   #Upskilling #FutureofWork #EmployeeDevelopment