

If you had to list out all the skills you use for your daily work, what would be on your list?
Communication, technical skills and technology skills are probably up there. And I bet your list has grown in the past five years... and it will likely continue to change over the next five.
80% of Americans agree there is a skills gap
40% say changing skill requirements will have the biggest impact on their job in the next five years
108 million workers hold jobs that require moderate or high digital knowledge
This change in the workforce is even more magnified when it comes to operations. The rate of retirement, lack of trade skills, rise in the need for technology-based skills and a reduced labor market are combining to create a perfect storm.
For example, on the maintenance side, our data shows that the average number of work orders per maintenance technician in August has been on a steady climb over the past few years.
51.4 work orders in 2016
53.1 in 2018
57.8 in 2019
That’s a 12% increase in work orders handled by each technician in a span of just three years.
Those who succeed in bridging the current skills gap will be those who can find ways to develop their own and their team’s skills.
And there is plenty of opportunity for that!
Work on technical skills- Seek out creative opportunities to improve your more technical or specialized skills. This might come in the form of an apprenticeship, program with a trade school or even taking a few YouTube tutorials.
Get more ideas for training in this post!
Invest in soft skills- Soft skills are things like communication, listening, teamwork and critical thinking. From technology to relationships, there are plenty of areas where you can hone these skills to better your team.
Practice digital skills- You may have a smartphone in your pocket, but do you use it or another smart device to complete your daily work with more efficiency? Now is the time to start exploring how you can integrate technology into your tasks to improve productivity, communication and more.
If you’re wondering what the right mix of skills is best for your position and field, it might be worth a conversation with your leaders.
Throughout changes in the skill sets of your team (current and future), we’re here to help you maximize your productivity and harness technology to make that even easier!
For help on growing your skill set and navigating your changing workforce, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve with technology.
Or want to ask a question?
Contact Us