FEATURE
UPSKILLING IS NO LONGER OPTIONAL : WHY WORKFORCE TRAINING IS THE KEY TO FUTUREPROOFING BUSINESSES
According to Skills England ’ s inaugural report , employer investment in training is in steady decline and has been over the past decade , with training expenditure at its lowest level since records began in 2011 and investment per employee down by 19 % in real terms . Cassie Gasson , Co-CEO of Thrive , believes upskilling is no longer optional but essential . She urges businesses to invest in their workforce to stay competitive and embrace the future . invest in people isn ’ t a money-saving strategy ; it ’ s a shortcut to stagnation .
At Thrive , we see this as a wake-up call . Upskilling is no longer ‘ nice to have ’ or something businesses can kick down the road . It ’ s essential .
The skills crisis in black and white
Here ’ s a stat that should make every business leader pause : employer investment in training is at its lowest since records began in 2011 . According to Skills England ’ s inaugural report , published in September , spending on workforce training has fallen by 19 % per employee in real terms over the past decade .
This trend isn ’ t just worrying , it ’ s dangerous . In a world of rapid technological change , tightening skills gaps and evolving job markets , failing to
The Skills England report underscores what many of us in the learning and development ( L & D ) world have been shouting about for years : businesses are falling behind , and the talent pipeline is drying up .
Think about the challenges we ’ re all navigating . Automation , Artificial Intelligence ( AI ), sustainability targets and the green economy are reshaping industries at lightning speed . Roles like data analysts , AI ethicists and climate risk officers didn ’ t exist a
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