We’ve all heard the reports — the shelf-life of skills is shrinking. The skills that employees need to be successful in the workplace are rapidly evolving due to advancements in technology and automation. Just in the last year, generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT have transformed how employees are performing their jobs and how training is being developed. And while AI may be the most recent transformative change, it certainly won’t be the last.

The opportunity and challenge for organizations is to stay ahead of change and ensure employees have the skills they need to be successful, regardless of what the future may look like. This is a complex undertaking that requires a thoughtful training strategy. To do this, learning and development (L&D) professionals must understand the skills that their employees currently have and where gaps exist across the company, as well as determine the skills that employees will need in the future. Based on this information, L&D can create an upskilling strategy that targets the specific needs of their workforce.

However, as we know, change is constant — this is not a one-and-done exercise. Ongoing change requires an ongoing investment in skills development. As new technology evolves and business goals change, so will the skills that employees need to perform their jobs. L&D must continually assess the skills of their workforce and adjust their training strategy as needed.

This issue of Training Industry Magazine focuses on upskilling a modern workforce, with articles that examine upskilling in the age of AI, driving successful skills transfer outside the classroom, creating an effective L&D plan around skills development and more. Also, be sure to check out what our thought leaders are saying about upskilling your people in the coming year. Spoiler: There are some good tips.

As we embark on a new year, organizations must prioritize continuous learning to build a skilled and resilient workforce. Upskilling is not just a nice-to-have in today’s market; it’s a must-have for organizations to remain competitive and agile. I’m excited to see what will unfold in the next 12 months and how L&D will support their organizations through the growth of their people.

As always, we love hearing from our readers, so please email us and let us know your thoughts on the content in this issue.