In a rapidly changing work environment, companies are increasingly focusing on continuous learning and professional requalification. The gap between available skills and those required – known as the skills mismatch – has become a real obstacle to transforming business models.
Already in 2020, 42% of workers had taken courses to update their skills. In 2023, the percentage remained stable at 41%, indicating that the issue remains a priority. Today, companies see on-the-job training as the most effective lever to achieve their business goals.
The Skills of the Future According to Companies
Between 2023 and 2027, companies will invest more in skills such as:
- Analytical thinking (10% of training programs)
- Creative thinking (8%)
- Artificial intelligence and big data (9%, with a significant gap compared to their current importance in the workforce)
Other rapidly growing areas include leadership and social influence, design and user experience, marketing and media, and cybersecurity. This shows that companies are looking ahead, preparing to face change with new capabilities, even if these are not yet widespread today.
The Mismatch: Companies and Individuals Invest Differently
A critical issue is the gap between what companies seek and what individuals choose to learn. According to research by Coursera, people who engage in self-directed learning tend to focus on technical skills such as:
- Programming
- Resource management
- Networking and cybersecurity
- UX Design
Basic skills like reading, writing, and math are also in high demand by users, even though they are not central to corporate strategies. This mismatch can slow down the meeting point between supply and demand in the job market.
Soft Skills and Hard Skills: The Winning Combination
The ongoing transformation – also driven by emerging technologies like generative AI – is reshaping the professional profiles in demand. Companies are not only looking for technical skills but also for human abilities that are difficult to automate, such as:
- Resilience
- Empathy
- Listening skills
- Leadership
Between 2017 and 2023, learning hours dedicated to these skills steadily increased, with a single exception in 2020, during the peak interest in digital skills caused by the pandemic.
How to Bridge the Gap?
- For professionals: combine technical skills with transversal and socio-emotional abilities.
- For companies: plan training strategies that anticipate market changes.
- For learning platforms: offer flexible, blended, and easily accessible learning paths for all.
