# Future of work: Understanding workforce skills and gaps ## Support workforce decisions by understanding current skills, identifying potential gaps and aligning development to business priorities. AI and evolving business demands are changing skill requirements across roles. Training activity can be mistaken for capability, limiting visibility into workforce readiness. Skills intelligence can help leaders understand workforce capabilities, identify potential gaps and make informed workforce planning decisions. [Analyze workforce skills](https://www.phoenix.edu/workforce-solutions/identify-skill-gaps.html) ## How organizations understand workforce skills Organizations may require data to understand workforce capabilities. Traditional learning metrics often measure activity rather than applied skills, limiting the ability to identify gaps and align workforce development to business strategy. ## Common gaps in workforce skills visibility | Challenge | Description | Potential Business Impact | Resource | |---|---|---|---| | Training ≠ skills Training ≠ skills | Training ≠ skills Completion metrics do not confirm capability | Training ≠ skills Misaligned workforce decisions | Training ≠ skills Can leaders trust learning metrics? | | Limited visibility Limited visibility | Limited visibility Skills data is fragmented across systems | Limited visibility Incomplete workforce insights | Limited visibility How to use a skills gap analysis in the workplace | | Static role models Static role models | Static role models Roles do not reflect evolving skills | Static role models Reduced organizational agility | Static role models What are benefits of becoming a skills-based organization? | | | ## How skills intelligence can improve workforce decisions Skills intelligence enables organizations to: ### Identify current workforce capabilities (PDF) ### Detect skills gaps aligned to business priorities (PDF) ### Map development pathways to address gaps (PDF) ### Support workforce planning and internal mobility (PDF) --- ## How organizations apply workforce skills insights Organizations can apply workforce skills insights across planning, development and talent decisions, including ### Workforce planning and forecasting (PDF) ### Internal mobility and career pathing (PDF) ### Guide to leadership development (PDF) ### AI readiness and transformation (PDF) --- ## Explore workforce insights and resources Explore resources designed to help leaders understand workforce capabilities, evaluate skills gaps and apply skills intelligence to workforce strategy. ### Understand workforce skills and gaps - [Benefits of Becoming Skills-Based](/workforce-solutions/workforce-resources/posts/future-of-work/benefits-of-becoming-skills-based) — the-future-of-work | November 07, 2025 • 5 minutes - [Learning Fuels Human and AI Collaboration](/workforce-solutions/workforce-resources/posts/future-of-work/learning-fuels-human-and-ai-collaboration) — the-future-of-work | January 05, 2026 • 5 minutes - [How to Use Learning and Development Programs to Create Learning Ecosystems](/workforce-solutions/workforce-resources/posts/future-of-work/what-are-learning-ecosystems) — the-future-of-work | January 20, 2022 • 8 minutes --- ### Evaluate skills development approaches - [Build Future-Ready Teams With AI](/workforce-solutions/workforce-resources/posts/future-of-work/build-future-ready-teams-with-ai) — the-future-of-work | December 10, 2025 • 5 minutes - [Developing future leaders with AI scenario-based learning](/workforce-solutions/workforce-resources/posts/future-of-work/using-ai-for-scenario-based-learning) — the-future-of-work | November 05, 2025 • 5 minutes - [What’s Missing From Your Learning Investment?](/workforce-solutions/workforce-resources/posts/future-of-work/whats-missing-from-your-learning-investment) — the-future-of-work | May 18, 2026 • 8 minutes --- ### See how skills intelligence works ## AI Skills Intelligence | University of Phoenix [Embedded content](https://www.youtube.com/embed/WVCNPVrsa-8?rel=0&controls=1&fs=0&modestbranding=1&cc_load_policy=1) × 00:00:01 To thrive, your workplace must adapt faster than ever. 00:00:05 Are your employees ready? 00:00:07 How can you better understand employee skill levels, 00:00:09 uncover skills, needs, 00:00:11 and identify gaps all while keeping your team 00:00:14 engaged and motivated? 00:00:16 AI skills. Intelligence helps gain insight into workforce 00:00:20 readiness and supports more informed talent decisions. 00:00:25 AI skills intelligence helps identify skill levels, 00:00:29 pinpoints areas where gaps may exist, 00:00:32 and connects those insights to focused, 00:00:34 role aligned development. 00:00:36 With clearer visibility of skills, 00:00:38 leaders can help address skills gaps, support productivity, 00:00:42 and strengthen retention efforts. 00:00:44 Prepare your workforce for the future 00:00:46 with clear actionable skills, insights, 00:00:50 see workforce skills more clearly. 00:00:52 Plan what comes next with AI skills intelligence. ### AI skills intelligence overview Introduces how organizations use skills insights to guide development and talent decisions.  ## AI Skills Intelligence Demo | University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions [Embedded content](https://www.youtube.com/embed/V8hHl5CXn-4?rel=0&controls=1&fs=0&modestbranding=1&cc_load_policy=1) × 00:00:00.4 To keep pace with change, 00:00:01 leaders need greater visibility into workforce skills. 00:00:05 AI skills intelligence helps analyze workforce skill levels, 00:00:10 identifies potential gaps and supports you to address them. 00:00:13 Role aligned learning pathways connect identified skills, 00:00:17 gaps to relevant development design. 00:00:19 To support real work with comprehensive reporting, 00:00:23 you gain insight into skill development and progress. 00:00:28 AI skills Intelligence is designed 00:00:30 to help generate job descriptions 00:00:32 and simplify skills assessments, 00:00:35 support succession planning, 00:00:36 and build personalized career pathways. 00:00:39 Using skills insights, help identify key roles 00:00:43 and develop the skills needed to support them. 00:00:46 Support workforce planning efforts with improved skills, 00:00:49 visibility. ### AI skills intelligence explainer Explains how AI skills intelligence helps leaders  connect skills insights to development, workforce planning and career pathways. --- ### Apply skills intelligence ### Bringing clarity to skills planning (PDF) ### Skills intelligence use cases (PDF) ### Becoming a skills-based organization (PDF) ### Measure ROI on workforce adaptability (PDF) --- ### Tools and frameworks ### Training vs skills readiness framework (PDF) ### Leadership alignment checklist (PDF) ### AI-ready workforce checklist (PDF) --- ## Frequently asked questions about workforce skills Expand AllCollapse All ### What is workforce skills visibility? Workforce skills visibility refers to an organization’s ability to better understand workforce capabilities and identify potential gaps using skills-related data rather than training completion metrics alone. ### Why is skills visibility important? It can help organizations make informed workforce planning, development and talent decisions. ### How can AI support skills intelligence? AI can help organize and interpret workforce skills data to detect patterns, identify gaps and support workforce planning and development. ### What is a skills-based organization? A skills-based organization prioritizes capabilities over roles to help improve agility and workforce alignment. ### Gain a clear understanding of your workforce capabilities and the gaps impacting performance [Analyze workforce skills](https://www.phoenix.edu/workforce-solutions/ai-skills-intelligence.html)