Rapid pace of changing skills alarms Indian professionals

New Delhi: As traditional industries go through digital transformation, job roles have evolved to the extent that as many as 62 per cent professionals feel "daunted" by the rapid pace of changing skills, a LinkedIn report says.

According to LinkedIn's 'Future of Skills 2019' report, released on Thursday, the skills needed to succeed are changing rapidly and demand for talent with rising skills is three-times that of the rest of the talent base.

The LinkedIn study, that surveyed 4,136 employees and 844 learning and development (L&D) professionals across Australia, India, Japan, and Singapore, noted that 82 per cent Indian professionals feel that the skills needed to succeed are changing rapidly and 62 per cent feel daunted by pace of change.

While employees and L&D professionals, both, have recognised the need for learning, 60 per cent of the employees in India feel that time is the most significant barrier they face in pursuing their L&D goals, and 37 per cent think it is the cost factor that acts as a hindrance.

From organisations' point of view, 46 per cent feel the lack of engaging learners acts as a barrier to deliver successful L&D programmes, while 44 per cent of organisations admit that adapting training for younger employees is a challenge.

"Certain skills are becoming less in-demand as different skills are needed to succeed, therefore upskilling talent is key for organisations to meet their business goals," said Ruchee Anand, Head of Talent Solutions and Learning Solutions - India at LinkedIn.

Paying attention to skills is crucial in recruitment, as previous job titles may not always be an accurate measure of a professional's capability and adaptability strengths in this new world of work, Anand added.

As traditional industries go through digital transformation, tech skills dominate the list of rising skills, but non-tech skills such as social media marketing, compliance, and human-centered design also stand out.

In India, the top three skills that are witnessing a rise are robotic process automation, compliance, and continuous integration.