Skills Gap

The term skills gap refers to the difference between the skills and competencies that an individual or team currently possesses and those required to perform their role effectively or to meet an organization's future objectives.

 

This gap may involve both technical skills (hard skills) and interpersonal or transferable skills (soft skills). It often becomes more evident as business needs evolve, new technologies emerge, or job responsibilities are redefined.

 

Identifying skills gaps enables Human Resources teams to design more targeted development plans, prioritize training initiatives, promote internal mobility, and support succession planning based on objective data rather than assumptions. Through performance evaluations, competency assessments, and talent analytics, organizations can identify which capabilities need strengthening and monitor how these competencies evolve over time.

 

Measuring the skills gap helps organizations to: