UNLEASH’s “Ask The Analyst” article explores a critical workforce strategy question facing HR leaders: when workforce planning and business conditions point toward reducing headcount, what evidence can HR provide to demonstrate that reskilling and redeploying existing employees may be a viable alternative? The article brings together perspectives from HR and workforce analysts on the data, business considerations, and practical evidence organizations should examine when making these decisions. Key themes include skills-gap analysis, workforce modeling, the capabilities an organization will need in the future, the skills already available within the workforce, and the cost and time associated with developing or acquiring those capabilities.
3Sixty Insights’ Nicole Roberts contributes an important perspective on how HR can strengthen the business case for reskilling. Roberts emphasizes the need to connect future workforce requirements with the capabilities already present within an organization and to understand how realistically those gaps can be addressed through reskilling. Her perspective also considers the economics and timing of the decision, including the investment required to develop existing employees compared with the costs and potential execution challenges associated with reducing headcount and hiring externally. Her contribution reinforces the broader message of the article: reskilling decisions should be supported by meaningful workforce data, clear business objectives, and evidence that demonstrates how existing talent can contribute to the organization’s future needs.
Read the full article here: Ask the Analyst – What Evidence Does HR Need to Make Reskilling the Outcome Instead of a Compromise?