People are busy, but some skills are rapidly becoming useless, so what can you do? Sean D’Arcy has some tips!
For years, experts have been sounding the alarm about the growing skills gap in the workforce, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence and other technologies. However, this issue is now no longer simply the concern of L&D professionals. Nearly 3 in 4 employees report worrying about their skills becoming obsolete, and 46% expect their professional skills to be out of date in five years or less, according to the 2024 Workplace Culture Report.
The training their company provides is irrelevant to them—a time-waster few professionals can afford
This growing concern underscores an urgent need for upskilling, not only to help employees stay competitive, but to ensure that companies are equipped for the demands of tomorrow. While employees clearly recognise the need to upskill, many report finding it difficult amid their daily tasks.
When asked what holds them back from upskilling, workers rank time constraints as their number one obstacle. More than one-third of employees surveyed also report that the training their company provides is irrelevant to them—a time-waster few professionals can afford. Nearly half of workers say they struggle to focus as different work tasks compete for their attention.
With these challenges looming large across the workforce, how can companies empower their employees to upskill in a reality of busy schedules and full workloads? Start with these three key steps:
1) Maximise minutes
The outmoded mindset around training sees it as an all-day event, taking place a few times per year at most. In fact, every minute can be an opportunity for learning. If it’s difficult for employees to find time for hours-long training sessions, experiment with microlearning, focused learning experiences that only take a few minutes. Employees can then complete them at their own pace, allowing for more flexibility.
Alternatively, weave these learning moments into events already on the schedule. For example, kick off a meeting with a microlearning minute, or use it as an icebreaker for a presentation.
This type of learning experience can be especially powerful for knowledge or skills that employees will use right away, as its focused subject helps people absorb the learning instead of getting lost in information overload.
2) Take advantage of technology whilst prioritising engagement
Despite years of talk about technology revolutionising training in the hybrid era of work, nearly half of workers surveyed still find corporate training boring. This is often due to technology, such as video conferencing, only being used to facilitate the same traditional lecture format, which merely means employees zone out in the comfort of their own home offices.
Instead, explore how technology can spark real engagement. Try different technologies that invite active participation and interactivity, such as with game-based learning.
AI is also quickly becoming a go-to tool to help create and deliver training, but even with the excitement around innovative tech, employees are clear: engagement is just as important as ever. In fact, 43% of employees surveyed say it’s even more important to focus on engagement when creating or facilitating training with AI.
This shows that while technology can offer key support, people still want learning experiences that they can connect with on a human level.
3) Make learning part of your company’s DNA
As technology advances and the business world evolves, companies will continue to need new skills in their workforce. This will require us to shift our mindset about upskilling, from a singular urgent task to a way of life for the modern employee.
Future-ready organisations are staffed by lifelong learners who are continuously developing their knowledge and skills. Fortunately, companies don’t need to rely on hiring people with this mindset; they can cultivate it now by fostering a learning culture.
One of the most potent ways to kick-start this is to empower peer-to-peer learning. The L&D team can’t be everywhere all the time, but 77% of employees say they would highly value an engaging way to share their knowledge and skills with co-workers. With the right tools and support, employees across the organisation can champion learning within their department or teams. Not only does this lead to more targeted and relevant training; it weaves learning into the company culture from the ground up.
People first
The rapid evolution of skill demands may make the future of work seem daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to re-establish learning as a key ingredient of successful business. By nurturing employees’ upskilling, companies do more than help their workforce keep pace; they position themselves to thrive through whatever challenges and opportunities come next.
Sean D’Arcy is Chief Solutions Officer at Kahoot!
