A recent industry survey by edForce highlights the growing impact of skill gaps on business performance, with nearly 72 per cent of organisations reporting moderate to significant skill shortages across critical technology domains.
The survey draws insights from 117 enterprises spanning information technology (IT) services, product companies, banking, financial services and insurance, manufacturing, telecom, travel, healthcare, and global capability centres. Participating organisations include global firms such as IBM, Google, Verizon, HSBC, TCS, Cognizant, Walmart, Microsoft, and Amazon.
The findings reveal that skill gaps are no longer a peripheral human resources concern but a core business challenge. Over 60 per cent of organisations reported project delays and rework, while one in two companies estimated a 3 to 7 per cent revenue loss due to productivity inefficiencies linked to inadequate skills.
The most affected areas include cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics, reflecting the rapid pace of digital transformation across industries.
While 68 per cent of organisations continue to rely on hiring to bridge these gaps, only 22 per cent believe it is effective. There is a clear shift towards structured upskilling, with 74 per cent of organisations either implementing or planning learning programmes focused on role-based, hands-on training.
Challenges remain, however. Lack of time (57 per cent), absence of structured frameworks (46 per cent), and budget constraints (39 per cent) continue to limit effective implementation. The report also highlights the link between skill gaps and attrition, with 66 per cent of organisations reporting higher employee turnover due to limited growth opportunities, and 81 per cent identifying continuous learning as critical to retention.
