5 ways to identify employee skills gaps

Although many businesses strive to maintain a well-balanced workforce, skills gaps are inevitable.

Changes in staff, technologies, and processes can leave some skills unaccounted for. If not addressed, these gaps could affect your business performance in the long run.

But everything seems to be fine. How do I know if there’s a skills gap?

Employers, here are 5 ways to identify employee skills gaps.

1. Regular skill assessments

The first step in identifying skills gaps is to conduct regular skill assessments across all levels of the business. These assessments can take various forms, like surveys, self-assessments, or performance reviews. By gathering data on employees' skill sets, you’ll be able to spot any deficiencies.

2. Employee feedback

Alongside assessments, simple conversations can go a long way. Employees are an excellent resource for identifying potential skills gaps within a company, so always encourage open and honest feedback. They often have the best knowledge of their own professional development needs and can shed light on areas where additional training or support is required.

3. Keep up-to-date with industry trends

Companies need to keep a finger on the pulse of industry trends to determine if their workforce's skills remain relevant. Engaging with industry events and collaborating with business partners can provide valuable insights into emerging skill requirements.

4. Analyse performance metrics

Performance metrics offer objective data that can reveal potential skills gaps. Analyse metrics such as productivity, project success rates, and customer satisfaction to identify patterns that may indicate skill deficiencies. Consistent underperformance in specific areas may indicate a need for targeted skill development.

5. Conduct competitor analysis

To remain competitive, companies must not only compare themselves to industry standards but also assess their performance against direct competitors. Analysing competitor strengths and weaknesses can show which skills your organisation may be falling behind with.

Fill your skills gap with Skills Bootcamps

Skills Bootcamps offer a focused, practical, and time-efficient approach to upskilling your staff. They’re also subsidised by the Government as part of the Skills for Life initiative, which means that, depending on your business, you could save up to 90%* off training fees.

Need to upskill your digital team? Find out how your business can benefit from Skills Bootcamps and get in touch for advice.

*Large employers contribute 30% of the cost of training, while Small or Medium employers (SMEs) contribute 10%.