Why Employee Skills Training Is A Top Priority
Traditionally, candidates were hired based on their educational background and work experience. Today, the rapid development of technology has significantly decreased the shelf life of formal education and changed hiring requirements. Even tech giants like IBM, Google, and Apple no longer require a college degree to recruit.
Employers are now looking for candidates with solid technical skills, which will nonetheless need to be fine-tuned frequently to keep up with technological advances. Soft skills like creativity, adaptability, problem-solving, and critical thinking are also becoming increasingly desirable, if not imperative.
New technologies keep invading most industries, transforming work processes and consumer expectations. The window of opportunity is closing. Companies need to start upskilling their staff now, so they’re still relevant tomorrow.
Want to find out more? Let’s look in detail why employee skills training is the most important training of both now and the future.
1. The Current Workforce Doesn’t Have The Right Skills
According to a 2019 SHRM research, 83% of respondents in the US have had trouble finding the right talent in the past 12 months [1]. And why is that? Among other reasons, 35% of the candidates didn’t have the right technical skills.
Manufacturing is one of the industries that has been hit the hardest by skill shortage. It’s facing a deficit that’s expected to reach 7.9 million by 2030 [2].
But manufacturing is just one example. The skills shortage is present across most industries and poses a serious financial threat. Unless companies take immediate action to close the skill gap, it’s going to get worse.
A viable solution is teaching your existing employees the technical skills they’re missing. Staff skills training is not a temporary patch for the shortage issue. As you introduce employees to new ideas and strategies, you feed their appetite for knowledge and boost their confidence. They become more agile, open to challenges, and adaptable to change. In other words, you’re shaping the workforce of tomorrow—today.
2. Hard Skills Change Fast
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought advances in Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and VR, among other technologies. New roles have emerged, and technical skills like data analysis, robotics, and software development are rising in demand.
But while technology keeps evolving, skill requirements will continue to change. The essential hard skills of today might become insufficient or obsolete tomorrow. Which is why skills training should not remain static. Continuous employee training and development are key to safeguarding business growth and employee stability.
So, how do you develop employee skills training that’s always up to date? An online employee training software can help you set up your courses easily, and update them as needed. Plus, you can use the extensive reporting and assessment options available to measure training effectiveness. This way, you’ll ensure that your employees are ready to embrace the future of the workplace.
3. Soft Skills Are Always Essential In The Workplace
No surprise there. Teams with strong soft skills perform better both in and out of the company. Also, unlike hard skills, soft skills have no expiration date and are a privilege strictly reserved for humans. Automation technology might replace repetitive tasks and processes (thank you!). However, nothing can replace human emotional intelligence and complex thinking.
Soft skills are complicated and often closely intertwined with one another [3]. In fact, even seemingly simple tasks require a synergy of soft skills. Take a sales rep dealing with an indecisive customer, for example. How can they get in the customer’s shoes, offer them the right solution, and close the sale? They need a mix of active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence, and negotiation skills.
The list of soft skills is endless. So, when it comes to which soft skills your employees need to develop, it depends on your business goals and industry. Then again, one thing is certain: employee soft skills training will help your team perform better now and in the future.
4. Training Increases Job Satisfaction
Millennials say that opportunities for training in the workplace drive their decision to stay or leave a company. Apparently, workplace skills training increases job satisfaction and prevents top talent from walking out the door.
So, what are you waiting for? Provide regular employee skills training to enhance productivity and performance, and satisfy their ambition. Allow your top performers to take on different roles and responsibilities. The ability to play a more active role in the company will reignite their enthusiasm and give them a reason to stay.
Meanwhile, employees need to willingly join your training initiatives and engage in the experience. It’s the only way to reap the full benefits of skills training. Make this happen by investing in online employee training tools that are effective, fun, and easy to access. For example, use an LMS like TalentLMS that allows you to choose among numerous training activities for employees and create personalized learning experiences.
5. A Skilled Workforce Enhances Customer Loyalty
Technological advances are reshaping both the workplace and the market. Innovative services and products are constantly introduced—and welcomed—to our lives.
You don’t need to look further than your mobile phone. Remember how mobile phones used to have basic functions only? Nowadays, with the integration of AI, they have turned into virtual assistants, competent photographers, and reliable navigation companions.
New technologies have elevated customer expectations, too. Consumers anticipate sophisticated products, premium services, and remarkable Customer Experience. The game of customer loyalty is played at a whole new level among competitors who are more agile and creative than ever.
Behind every aspect of Customer Experience, from product ideation to marketing and after-sales services, are your employees. Do you need them to come up with innovative ideas, apply the latest technologies, or offer memorable buying experiences? Then, you need to keep their skills sharp and their minds curious.
Conclusion
New technologies are revolutionizing the modern workplace, the market, and just about every aspect of our lives. A comprehensive skills training strategy can help you stay at the forefront of innovation and creativity. Are you ready to start upskilling your workforce now? Or will you let technology pass right past you and competitors take you out of the picture?
References:
[1] The Global Skills Shortage
[2] These Industries Will Face the Biggest Talent Shortages by 2030
[3] Soft skills in the workplace: How to develop them and why should you care?
