ASTD surveyed 1,179 companies and found that 79 percent of them say
they face a skills gap. 79 percent!
Communities, states, regions, and entire nations pay a heavy price
when workers lack the right skills for critical jobs. While the
skills gap has always been a concern for organizations, the global
recession complicates an already perplexing issue. Recognizing the
extraordinary circumstances, ASTD conducted new research and the
results are published ina new white paper that features skills gap
survey findings and includes impact of the recession, Web 2.0,
andthe surge ofmillennials in the workplace.
The paper is titled Bridging the
Skills Gap: New Factors Compound the Growing Skills
Shortage. The new paper analyzes the multi-layered dimensions of the skills
gap in today's economic climate including the impact of the global
recession, the retirement of Baby Boomers in the workforce, Web 2.0
technologies, and the surge of the millennial cohort into the
workforce. It includes the results of ASTD's 2009 Skills Gap Poll
taken by 1,179 organizations. Case studies from eight leading
companies are also included.
Bridging the Skills Gap: New Factors Compound the Growing
Skills Shortage
outlines a six-step action
plan to help organizations and individuals deal proactively
with the skills gap.
"Recent economic challenges have forced public- and private-sector
organizations to execute their strategies with more precision than
ever before, and do it with fewer resources, especially people,"
says Tony Bingham, ASTD President and CEO. "Many senior executives
are struggling to close skills gaps within their organizations. The
Action Plan identified in this white paper provides a process for
leaders, managers, and learning professionals to use to
successfully manage this challenge."
Learning professionals are strategically positioned to identify the
skills and competencies their organizations possess and those
needed for the future. The white paper includes eight case studies
from Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,
EMC Corporation, IBM, McCain Foods Limited, NVR Inc., Steelcase,
and the Tennessee Valley Authority. These organizations' case
studies provide best practices to address skills gaps.