The rapidly evolving world of work, shaped by technological advancements, shifting employee expectations and widening skills gaps, presents constant challenges. To address these gaps effectively, organisations must prioritise equipping, engaging and preparing their teams for the future, GLORIA NWAFOR writes.

Addressing skills gaps and adapting to change can be daunting. Without the right strategies, teams risk burnout, disengagement and falling behind the demands of an ever-changing world of work.

Experts are of the view that organisations need to develop adaptable, skilled, and motivated employees.

Specifically, they said the expertise of a human resource or learning and development professional makes one uniquely positioned to lead the charge.

According to them, by assessing team strengths, identifying development needs, and enabling flexible working arrangements, they can create an environment that boosts engagement and productivity, ensuring organisations remain competitive and prepared for challenges that lie ahead.

Experts argued that by staying informed and proactive, HR could continue to build resilient, future-ready teams that thrive in an ever-changing world of work.

Senior Policy Adviser, Skills, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Lizzie Crowley, said there is a growing recognition that essential skills are vital, with transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving that all workers need in modern workplaces.

According to her, these tools are fundamental to people working together effectively, as well as to how they engage with customers and other external stakeholders.

“These skills apply to all jobs, even though new technologies are changing some technical aspects of work. Previously, efforts to build these skills from education and into the workplace were hampered by the lack of a clear and common framework to define, measure, and assess these skills.

“That is why the CIPD joined other leading organisations to champion a united approach and help develop a clear framework for assessing and developing these essential skills, to provide individuals and employers with the tools they need to succeed in the future workplace,” she said.

Noting that skills are not the same as qualifications, she said the two are often treated interchangeably.

“However, the process of qualifying undoubtedly builds on and improves skills. Qualifications also provide specialist knowledge and they signal a wide range of desirable attributes to employers. These complement, but are distinct from, the generic skills we use in the workplace. Both qualifications and skills matter, as a workforce with a low level of qualifications is also one likely to have low levels of skills,” she said.

She emphasised that skills are important for economic growth and prosperity.

Crowley stressed that the economic prosperity of a country depends on how many people are at work and how productive they are in the workplace.

She maintained that better use of skills available in the workforce, alongside increased investment in skills and training, has been shown to improve productivity.  She held that growth in productivity and prosperity builds the conditions for improvements in real earnings, creating a ‘virtuous’ cycle.

For organisations, she said, skills are vital to meeting both current and future business demands.

To be successful and competitive, she noted that businesses must ensure their talent management and succession planning take into consideration what skills need to be sourced, nurtured, developed, and retained now to create a successful and productive workforce of the future.

To tackle the underlying skills deficit, she explained that it was not enough to focus on initial education and training, adding that most of the future workforce is already in work.

She urged employers to understand the importance of investing in and improving the skill levels of employees, including learning ‘in the flow’ of work, in-house development programmes, and coaching.

She added that it was important that the activities are underpinned by a culture where learning is not only embedded but encouraged across every level of organisations.

Already, the Executive Director of EGO Foundation, Toluwase Olaniyan, has described 2025 as a year of skill acquisition.

Noting that as citizens stepped into 2025, a critical message resonates louder than ever that acquiring practical, hands-on skills is no longer optional but an essential path to securing employment and achieving economic stability.

Stating that the future belongs to those who have the skills to build, he said in a world where industries are rapidly evolving. Traditional job roles are being reshaped, and vocational skilling offers a gateway to opportunity, especially for youth and underserved communities.

He noted that the reality of today’s global economy rewards individuals who possess market-relevant skills across key sectors such as technology, agriculture, manufacturing, or creative industries, adding that the demand for skilled labour was soaring.

Yet, he said many young people remain unemployed, not because opportunities do not exist, but because of a mismatch between what employers need and the skills job seekers bring to the table.

On why vocational skills matter, Olaniyan stressed that vocational training equips individuals with the technical and practical expertise needed for specific trades or professions.

He said that, unlike traditional academic pathways, vocational training was tailored to meet real-world demands, empowering individuals to solve problems, create value, and deliver results in industries that form the backbone of the economy.

In the case of Nigeria and beyond, Olaniyan said that vocational skilling was not just an economic necessity but a tool for national transformation for countries like Nigeria.

Acknowledging that Nigeria boasts a vibrant youth population with immense potential, he said youth unemployment remains a significant challenge.

By focusing on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), he said Nigeria could harness the demographic dividend to drive innovation, industrialisation, and entrepreneurship.

Stating that the future of work is skills-based, the EGO Foundation boss projected that in 2025 and beyond, the global workforce would be increasingly shaped by skills, not degrees.

He said employers would prioritise individuals, who demonstrate competence and adaptability over those with theoretical knowledge.

This shift, he said, underscores the importance of continuous learning and upskilling to remain competitive in an ever-changing job market.

Further, he stressed that vocational training was not limited to entry-level jobs, as skilled professionals often enjoy higher job security, better earning potential, and opportunities for career advancement.

He maintained that many successful entrepreneurs today started with vocational skills, from tailors and chefs to software developers and artisans.