Skills Gap Rapidly Widening, According to New Wiley Survey
January 24 2023 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Sixty-nine percent of HR professionals surveyed
say they are experiencing a skills gap at their company, creating
staffing challenges and the need to reskill employees
The skills gap in the U.S. is rapidly spreading to more
organizations, according to Wiley’s latest annual Closing the
Skills Gap report, released today.
Wiley’s research suggests companies are having an increasingly
difficult time attracting and retaining workers who have the skills
needed to fill their open jobs. Among 600 U.S. human resources
professionals surveyed by Wiley, 69% said their organization has a
skills gap, up from 55% in a similar survey in 2021.
“This widening of the skills gap is concerning and not likely to
end soon,” said Todd Zipper, executive vice president at Wiley.
“The demand for skills keeps evolving faster, and it’s increasingly
hard for companies and higher education institutions to keep up,
particularly when it comes to soft skills. Indeed, there’s now a
greater demand for soft skills over hard skills following the
pandemic.”
The growing skills gap has led to staffing challenges, making it
harder for organizations to recruit and retain talent. During the
last year, nearly half of employers in Wiley’s survey reported that
at least 10% of their open roles went unfilled, but that figure
rose to 20% among employers who said they have a skills gap. These
challenges can cause organizations to become less efficient and
less competitive.
The report suggests lingering effects of the Great Resignation
may exacerbate the skills gap, as more than 40% of respondents said
it takes more time than before to find suitable job candidates. A
nearly equal number said they must offer higher pay and additional
benefits to attract and retain workers. And going forward,
long-term retention is respondents’ top concern (named by 40%)
related to hiring new talent during the next three years.
While some organizations address their skills gap by hiring new
employees or using contractors, the majority say they try to
upskill or reskill current employees to fill the gap. Those that
lack the development initiatives and in-house resources to
effectively retrain workers can instead reimburse employees’
tuition costs for training or partner with colleges or technical
schools. The proportion of respondents who said more than 5% of
their workforce used tuition assistance rose from 61% in 2021 to
69% in 2022.
“Employers would be wise to invest in employee learning and
development initiatives, workforce training and flexible education
benefits to deal with this burgeoning skills gap and boost
retention,” said Zipper.
The report also suggests alternate credentials are gaining on
the college degree as a way to validate a job candidate’s skills.
While 81% of respondents believe earning a bachelor’s degree
positions an individual for success, 62% place less value on
whether applicants graduated from college, with most saying they
would interview non-graduates who have five years of relevant work
experience, certificates from colleges or universities, and digital
badges or micro-credentials.
To view the full report’s findings, please visit: Closing the
Skills Gap Report 2023.
About Wiley
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leader in scientific research and career-connected education.
Founded in 1807, Wiley enables discovery, powers education, and
shapes workforces. Through its industry-leading content, digital
platforms, and knowledge networks, the company delivers on its
timeless mission to unlock human potential. Visit us at Wiley.com.
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Anthony Amiano / aamiano@wiley.com
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