Emerging tech widens global skills gap

The world of work is evolving faster than ever. Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, cloud computing, and cybersecurity are no longer distant trends; they're reshaping how businesses operate and redefining what skills matter.

- RAVI KAKLASARIA

Yet, as technology advances at breakneck speed, a striking paradox has emerged: new roles are being created faster than we can train people to fill them.

This isn't just an HR challenge, it's a strategic business crisis. Organisations worldwide are experiencing a widening skills gap, one that threatens innovation, competitiveness, and even growth.

The acceleration of technology, and the lag of skills

According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, nearly 85 million jobs could be displaced due to automation, while 97 million new roles will emerge. These roles are centered on skills like AI, data analysis, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. However, traditional education and corporate learning frameworks are struggling to keep pace.

Universities continue to teach static curriculums, while many enterprises still treat training as an occasional activity rather than a continuous process. Meanwhile, roles such as AI Ethics Specialist, Prompt Engineer, Cybersecurity Automation Architect, or Cloud FinOps Analyst have become critical across industries, jobs that didn’t even exist five years ago. The result? A talent deficit that’s slowing innovation and inflating hiring costs.

Why traditional learning models are falling short

Traditional learning is reactive. Most organisations train employees after adopting new technologies, creating a lag between implementation and efficiency. This gap reduces the ROI of technological investments.

Moreover, classroom-style learning or static e-learning courses do not align with how technology functions in real-world environments. Emerging technologies demand experiential, hands-on, and adaptive learning where professionals can simulate problems, experiment with solutions, and apply learning in real-time.