Learning and Development (L&D) Transformation for Developing a Future-Ready Workforce

Middle-Eastern organizations continue to face several challenges in addressing the learning and skilling requirements of their employees, including:

• Ensuring Engagement Across Multigenerational Workforces
• Measuring Training Program Efficacy and ROI
• Managing Diversity, Compliance, and Cohesion in a Dispersed Workforce
• Increasing Demand for Upskilling Local Talent Amid Skill Gaps Driving Up Operational Costs.

Latest trends shaping the Middle-East L&D landscape include:

• Shift from Oil & Gas-Driven to Technology-Driven Economy is Driving Demand for Skilled Workforce
• Bridging the Skills Gap Amidst the Rise of GenAI & Automation
• Rise in Investment in Upskilling Programs to Enhance Digital Skills of the Local Workforce
• Rise in Demand for Flexible, Hybrid, and New Ways of Working.

With this background, it is important for CHROs and L&D leaders in the Middle-East to focus on:

• Prioritizing the roll-out of upskilling programs to identify key skill gaps within the organization, focusing on empowering the local workforce and equipping them with essential digital competencies.
• Developing and incorporating multilingual training modules to overcome language barriers and integrating cultural values. Ensuring that upskilling initiatives resonate well with local workforce and key stakeholders.
• Actively collaborating with the government to implement learning and skilling programs that enhance digital fluency and ICT literacy skills, improving the skill sets of both current and future generations.