Neglecting to interact with experts can have serious consequences
Inform IT decision-makers not to tell them that skills shortages are a myth. They are real and can be disruptive.
The Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report surveys IT professionals every year on topics such as their salaries and preferred learning styles. It provides a comprehensive assessment of all IT departments around the world.
Our 2016 report revealed that 31% of IT decision-makers believed skills gaps were a problem. This figure now stands at 79%.

Why is there an increase in skill gaps?
One theory is that there was a lack of skills in 2016, but these gaps went unnoticed. This is possible, but decision makers should be in touch with their staff to be aware if there are skills shortages.
It is more likely that IT departments, as well as organizations, are having difficulty keeping up with digital transformation. Emerging technologies like cloud, AI and software-defined networking will require new skills that IT departments may not have had a few years ago. The digital shift has occurred so quickly that it is difficult to keep up with the changing skills requirements.
Shifting priorities and changing tech have led to new skills.
But what if there’s an additional factor?
IT professionals increasingly rely on training to improve their skills. Even though 34% of respondents approved of training, 85% of our respondents had received some training in the last year.
IT professionals are becoming more skilled but the type and format of training they receive is changing.
Since 2016, skills gaps have increased by 48%. In the same time, instructor-led training attendance has declined. These numbers are alarming. These numbers are alarming.
10% of IT professionals have dropped to a lower percentage who received classroom training.
Virtual classroom training saw a 11% drop in IT professionals

These professionals opted for e-learning that was self-paced in the hope of saving time and money.

Although e-learning is a useful tool, it does not provide all the skills that you need.
Everyone can take part in the journey to elearning. Paid libraries can help you to acquire skills that are relevant to your job or that could be developed in the next 12-24 months. When skills are more important, it is a good idea to get more formal training.
Instructor-led training is better than e-learning when you have high-priority skills and high-risk. This is because of the expert conversations that are part of the classroom training environment.
Global Knowledge was informed by Cushing Anderson (International Data Corporation), Program vice president, IT Education and Certification Research that instructor-led training has the advantage of interaction. To understand the course material in relation with their job and career, students can benefit from having a conversation with experts.
Anderson stated that instructor-led training allows instruction to be contextualized. Anderson stated that instructors and students need context to make the content relevant.
While e-learning libraries can provide rich content, is it worth opening the entire library to employees? Employees could learn about topics that haven’t been prioritized. Leaders and training coordinators should be more transparent about their training strategy to ensure that employees only learn topics that are relevant to the business.
It is not efficient to train just to learn. Make sure you have a strategy and goals before you buy training.

Skills gaps consequences: delays, adjusted project plans, lost revenue
IT departments no longer have to be a master of all trades. Specialization is becoming more common in the industry. Individual employees require unique skills.
Recent surveys of IT training buyers showed that I