Companies Face Talent Visibility Issues, Not Shortages

Many organizations are experiencing a "talent visibility problem" rather than a genuine talent shortage, according to insights from Epignosis, the parent company of TalentLMS. A significant disconnect exists between how managers perceive their team's skills and how employees experience skill development and recognition within their companies. The TalentLMS Skills Visibility Report, which surveyed 1,500 U.S. employees and managers, revealed that 4 in 10 employees find it easier to seek new employment externally than to find new opportunities within their current organization. This suggests that companies are failing to effectively identify and leverage the skills already present in their workforce.

Further compounding this issue, Gartner research indicates that only 8% of companies possess reliable data on the existing skills of their employees. This lack of visibility means that valuable talent and potential contributions often go unnoticed. The perception gap extends to skill development, with 90% of managers reporting that they support their teams in acquiring new skills, while only 60% of employees feel they receive such support. This discrepancy highlights a structural challenge in how organizations track, develop, and promote internal talent.

Epignosis CEO, who has extensive experience in workforce learning and talent growth, posits that this problem is not due to a lack of managerial intent but rather a systemic failure in talent visibility. When skills remain unseen, the individuals possessing them also become less visible for advancement or new roles. The TalentLMS platform aims to address this by facilitating training, upskilling, and workforce development, thereby improving the identification and activation of internal talent. The report underscores the need for companies to implement better systems for understanding and utilizing their existing human capital.