The constant evolution of technology creates a never-ending demand for diverse and complicated roles in the workforce. Many jobs that exist today would have been impossible to predict or imagine just a couple of decades ago. A study by Dell Technologies predicts that 85% of jobs in 2030 don’t even exist yet. 

This creates a challenge for organizations around the world to keep up with the skills gap resulting from these emerging roles. The modern workforce doesn’t just need to be tech-savvy, but they must also possess the soft skills necessary to function in diverse teams. 

eLearning can be a great help when it comes to bridging the skills gap. The convenience, flexibility, and variety that online learning programs provide make it the go-to solution to this problem. 

Let’s take a look at how eLearning can help get the workforce up to speed. 

Skills Gap: How Concerned Should You Be? 

For many organizations where revenue is the primary focus, the skills gap may sound like an issue for the backburner. If a business is thriving, the management is usually inclined to keep up with the status quo. This approach can be very harmful to the success of the business in the long run.

Organizations must strive to identify the skills gap in their workforce and work to mitigate them before the gap becomes a chasm. According to Salesforce, if the skills gap is not closed within 3-5 years, there will be negative impacts on product development, delivery and innovation, as well as customer satisfaction. 

Skills gaps usually emerge from two categories: digital skills and soft skills. The current wave of Industry 4.0 is characterized by increased digitization, automation, and AI application in the workplace. This means the modern workforce must possess the expertise to navigate these changes.

On the other hand, soft skills have also become increasingly necessary for the future of work. These skills are important for personal as well as organizational success. A well-rounded workforce needs to be trained in teamwork, empathy, time management, and leadership, just to name a few.

Leveraging eLearning to Address The Gaps

Customize Training

Perhaps the greatest advantage eLearning provides is its customizability. If organizations are able to identify the areas where employees lack, they can create customized training specifically created to fill these gaps. Customized training is also helpful as it factors in specifics of an organization, from equipment to procedures and everything in between. As a result, learners not only learn new skills, they get to learn in a context that translates directly into their day-to-day work.

Embed Learning in the Workflow

It can be pretty annoying to step away from all your action items and put some time towards learning and development. One of the top complaints that employees may have with workplace training programs is that they can be disruptive, may result in divided attention, and make it difficult to pick up work where they left it off.

A way to tackle this problem is to learn ‘in the flow of work’. The idea is to leverage technology and instructional design principles to naturally embed learning in an employee’s usual schedule. This includes delivering training right at the time of need. 

Learning in the workflow leverages emails, chats, microlearning prompts, and other tools already available in the workplace to deliver instant learning. In a way, employees might not even feel as if they are learning, since it comes so naturally in the flow of work. 

Base Learning on Competencies

Once you’ve identified skills gaps in your organization, it can be helpful to figure out the exact goals your employee training program needs to address. Competency-based learning is all about focusing on particular learning objectives that your training should aim to cover. This includes specific skills or technical knowledge that the employees may need.

Using a goal-based approach to training makes it possible to achieve specific and measurable outcomes, which tackles the skills gap head-on.

Make Room for Flexibility

eLearning provides a variety of different ways to incorporate flexibility into your training. The easier you make it for employees to access learning materials, the more readily they close their skills gap. 

Many learners appreciate the accessibility provided by mobile-friendly learning platforms. Add asynchronous and self-paced learning options to that, and your employees feel in charge of their learning. Take it another step forward and add blended learning options. Giving more choices to the learners goes a long way toward boosting their motivation.

Assess the Results

Bridging the skills gap is not just about introducing new measures, but also about keeping track of how well these changes are working. Make sure you keep a regular eye on the analytics reports and periodically check in with your trainees to see how they are doing. Ultimately, learners are the best judge of their shortcomings, and asking for feedback makes it easier to determine how well those gaps are being addressed.

Bridge the Skills Gap with Edly

The best way to address the skills gap in your organization is by looking inwards. By assessing where your workers need help, it is possible to implement upskilling or reskilling initiatives. This way you invest in your employees’ learning and development simultaneously. 

Online learning platforms are key to making this happen. A state-of-the-art LMS can make a huge difference in how your employees learn. Edly can help you keep your workforce trained according to your needs. Get in touch with us today or try our platform for free!