Pressure to accommodate vast talent pool haunts L&D leaders
Learning and development (L&D) executives are being encouraged to take advantage of the widespread growth and access to information online in coming up with programmes that cater to employees from underserved communities.
L&D executives feel the pressure to balance the need in creating such programmes for new and entry-level hires and making sure they stay within budget constraints, according to a white paper from SAP Insights.
"The good news is that unlimited information and ubiquitous networks make this work easier," the paper read.
Some initiatives may take the form of online certification programmes, which can be created at a low cost and have the potential to reach anyone with a computer connection, it added.
Expanding talent pool
The advice comes as talent pools get expanded due to easing hiring requirements regarding education as of late.
"Continuing to make university degrees the bar for corporate employment all but assures future talent shortages," the report read. "Instead, focus is shifting to direct training for people in the skills they need to do their jobs."
The report noted that some tech companies across the world are offering courses design for non-university-bound individuals to fill IT roles.
"Free learning models created by the tech giants do good for the community while giving people who otherwise would not get through the door an entrée to a promising career," it said.
This situation has led to the rise of "new collar" employees, as first coined by former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty.
"As the new collar trend picks up steam, companies around the world could look to apprenticeships, certifications, and two-year degrees to find more employees."
Read more about corporate learning and how it's changing for L&D executives in this free whitepaper from SAP Insights.
