A workforce skills gap exists when employees do not yet have the knowledge or abilities needed to meet a business’s current or future requirements. Organizations can respond by identifying the capabilities that matter, assessing what their teams can do today, and choosing the right mix of development, internal mobility, and hiring.
That distinction matters as roles and technology change. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identified skills gaps as a major barrier to business transformation. For employers, the lesson is not to chase every new trend. It is to understand which capabilities are most important to their strategy and prepare people to use them effectively.
What Is a Workforce Skills Gap?
A workforce skills gap exists when employees do not yet have the knowledge or abilities needed to meet a business’s current or future requirements. Organizations can respond by identifying the capabilities that matter, assessing what their teams can do today, and choosing the right mix of development, internal mobility, and hiring.
That distinction matters as roles and technology change. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identified skills gaps as a major barrier to business transformation. For employers, the lesson is not to chase every new trend. It is to understand which capabilities are most important to their strategy and prepare people to use them effectively.
What Is a Workforce Skills Gap?
A workforce skills gap exists when employees do not yet have the knowledge or abilities needed to meet a business’s current or future requirements. Organizations can respond by identifying the capabilities that matter, assessing what their teams can do today, and choosing the right mix of development, internal mobility, and hiring.
That distinction matters as roles and technology change. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identified skills gaps as a major barrier to business transformation. For employers, the lesson is not to chase every new trend. It is to understand which capabilities are most important to their strategy and prepare people to use them effectively.
A workforce skills gap exists when employees do not yet have the knowledge or abilities needed to meet a business’s current or future requirements. Organizations can respond by identifying the capabilities that matter, assessing what their teams can do today, and choosing the right mix of development, internal mobility, and hiring.
What Is a Workforce Skills Gap?
The issue is not simply whether employees have completed enough training. It is whether people can apply the right skills to do their jobs well and help the organization meet its goals. A useful assessment connects business priorities to observable capabilities, then turns the findings into practical actions.
That distinction matters as roles and technology change. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identified skills gaps as a major barrier to business transformation. For employers, the lesson is not to chase every new trend. It is to understand which capabilities are most important to their strategy and prepare people to use them effectively.
A workforce skills gap exists when employees do not yet have the knowledge or abilities needed to meet a business’s current or future requirements. Organizations can respond by identifying the capabilities that matter, assessing what their teams can do today, and choosing the right mix of development, internal mobility, and hiring.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Common causes include changing job requirements, new technology, limited development opportunities, unclear expectations, and business growth. The underlying cause should be assessed before choosing a solution.
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Common causes include changing job requirements, new technology, limited development opportunities, unclear expectations, and business growth. The underlying cause should be assessed before choosing a solution.
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Common causes include changing job requirements, new technology, limited development opportunities, unclear expectations, and business growth. The underlying cause should be assessed before choosing a solution.
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Common causes include changing job requirements, new technology, limited development opportunities, unclear expectations, and business growth. The underlying cause should be assessed before choosing a solution.
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Common causes include changing job requirements, new technology, limited development opportunities, unclear expectations, and business growth. The underlying cause should be assessed before choosing a solution.
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You already have a people strategy. The Skills Execution Gap Report™ shows whether your organization has the capacity to execute it, and where it’s breaking down.
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