by T. Dunaway | March 4, 2025 | 5 Min Read

Closing the Skills Gap with Rapid Upskilling Strategies

Employee Training
Training and Development, Orange Button on Computer Keyboard

The biggest risk to business success is not competition—it is a skills gap.

The workforce is evolving rapidly, yet many employees lack the necessary skills to keep pace with change. By 2027, half of all employees will need reskilling or upskilling (World Economic Forum, 2024). However, traditional training programs are too slow and inefficient to address the urgent demand for new skills.

Companies that implement rapid upskilling strategies ensure employees are job-ready in weeks rather than years. These strategies focus on speed, relevance, and impact, allowing businesses to develop a future-ready workforce.

Four Proven Strategies for Rapid Upskilling

Microlearning for Immediate Impact

  • Short, focused training improves knowledge retention through higher engagement by 50 percent (Brandon Hall Group, 2024).
  • Employees trained via microlearning complete courses twice as fast as those in traditional programs.

Role-Based Learning Programs

  • Training should align with specific job roles and industry trends.
  • Example: A retail associate transitioning into eCommerce needs AI-driven marketing and data analytics training.

AI-Driven Skill Mapping

  • AI-powered analytics identify employees with adjacent skills that can be developed into high-demand competencies.
  • AI-driven skill mapping reduces training costs by 40 percent (Deloitte, 2024).

Hands-On Learning and Simulations

  • Employees retain 75 percent more knowledge when engaged in real-world simulations (Harvard Business Review, 2024).

How Unboxed Training & Technology Helps Close the Skills Gap

Unboxed provides customized upskilling solutions designed for speed and efficiency, including:

  • Spoke® Learning Platform: AI-powered adaptive learning paths for rapid upskilling.
  • AI Roleplay and Simulation Training: Interactive, real-world practice.
  • Custom Learning Content: Training designed to meet specific skill needs at scale.

Final Thoughts

The companies that succeed in the future will be those that upskill their employees faster and smarter.

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