In our 2019 Learning and Development report, we highlighted the skills gap heralded by the convergence of two factors: Brexit and the UK’s ageing workforce. Now in 2020, the skills gap facing the UK employment market looks set to be much wider, as the economic ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic are felt.
Of the over one fourth of the UK workforce furloughed and nearly half of companies expect to cut at least some staff when the furlough scheme comes to a close at the end of October. While some divisions, teams, and departments in large organisations will be cut entirely, many others will balance a reduced budget, shrink their teams, and simultaneously need to innovate to learn how to create value in a transformed economy.
Recommendation #1: Seize on a motivated attitude to learn.
The good news is that employees want to learn more. As furlough continues, a rising number of employees say that they are more likely to learn in the next months and a growing number say their top reason is to show more value to their employer. Sixty-seven percent in May and June vs. 50% of employees surveyed in March and April said that COVID-19 had made them more likely to learn new skills in the coming months.
COVID-19 Survey*
A growing number of employees are saying that the reason they will devote more time to learning is in order to become more valuable to their employers. Thirty-five percent in March and April to 41% in May and June.
COVID-19 Survey*
Recommendation #2: Retrain existing workers rather than restructuring for more entry-level positions.
Private companies that had seen growth in 2019 reported pre-pandemic that they had focused on training their existing employees rather than recruiting and training new hires.
L&D Report Survey**
Fifty-five percent of these companies opt for this route and they were over 25% more likely than their non-growth competitors to choose upskilling. While growth might not be in the cards for many organisations in the near future, companies that have been achieving success already recognize that it’s often more efficient to invest in your current team than increasing headcount.
L&D Report Survey**
Adopting automation, improving processes, and developing competent leadership to reduce unwanted employee turnover can help your organisation make more with less.
Recommendation #3: Promote a culture of learning to help your team tackle skills gaps independently
Companies who had seen growth in 2019 were twice as likely to identify their company as having a culture of learning. Seventy-three percent of growing companies rated their learning culture as “High: Employees are actively engaged in learning on a daily basis” or ‘’Good: Employees have opportunities to learn frequently.” Fifty-percent of companies who had not reported growth in 2019 ranked their learning culture as “Good” or “High.”
L&D Report Survey**
L&D Report Survey**
Recommendation #4: Evaluate soft-skill gaps alongside technical skills
Although increased automation can help alleviate the loss of employed staff, the existing employees are expected to require a high level of soft skills. Only 35% of all UK companies surveyed reported that the soft skills of their entry-level employees were high enough to succeed in their roles.
L&D Report Survey**
The most commonly lacking skills L&D professionals reported were communication skills, teamwork, and problem-solving skills - all crucial to helping organisations adapt and regain their feet in a new economic landscape.
L&D Report Survey**
Are you curious to learn more?
Download your free copy of the 2022 L&D Report: Benchmark Your Workplace Learning which will cover relevant trends to help you enhance your strategy with best-practice recommendations.
About the surveys:
* The COVID-19 survey data is taken from March-June 2020 and reflects 1,000+ responses.
**The L&D Report Survey takes data from 150+ professionals in the UK responsible for the skills, development and training within their private organisation. This survey was conducted pre-pandemic throughout January 2020. Growth companies represent 43% of those surveyed, and non-growth companies represent 57% surveyed who reported either static or declining financial growth.
Both survey responses were collected from our database of training buyers. The L&D Report survey is sent to a targeted audience of corporate training buyers who have requested training through our website for their organisations. The COVID-19 survey data reflects corporate training buyers more broadly and the questions above assess employees' perspective on corporate learning from a personal point-of-view.