6 ways to Bridge the Tech Skills Gap with Remote Work

You've heard the whispers, seen the reports and felt the headaches – the tech industry is facing an uphill battle with the skills gap. There's a growing chasm between the tech skills available in the workforce and the tech skills businesses are crying out for. 

A recent Korn Ferry study warns that by 2030, there could be a global talent shortage of more than 85 million people. If left unchecked, we're talking about a potential loss of $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenue.

And the tech industry is in the crosshairs. AI, big data and cybersecurity are three major areas where skills are most wanted and least found. 

Businesses are grappling to find talent with expertise in emerging technologies. Unfortunately, it's like hunting for unicorns, only less fun. While AI and automation may be able to augment some of those skills, there's still a high need for skilled humans. 

So, how are businesses supposed to find hyper-skilled employees while dealing with an unprecedented talent shortage? They can start by elevating their existing remote work practices. 

Elevating remote work practices to alleviate gaps 

As it turns out, remote work might just be the magic bullet we need to address the skills gap. Breaking down geographical barriers and reshaping traditional work norms opens up a fresh arena of opportunities. 

But to really unlock its potential, we need to do more than simply adopt remote work. We need to understand how to activate and amplify its strengths. Here are six ways to do just that. 

1. Adapt recruitment and diversity standards to access the global talent pool

The beauty of remote work is that it dissolves geographical boundaries. You're no longer confined to the talent within commuting distance of your headquarters. You now have the world at your fingertips. But accessing this global talent pool requires a new way of thinking. 

We need to embrace diversity, not just in terms of race or gender, but in cultures, experiences and perspectives. Our recruitment strategies need to be global-centric, taking into account different time zones, languages and cultural nuances. And our team dynamics need to be inclusive, respecting and celebrating the diverse backgrounds that remote work brings together.

In other words, you need to rethink your recruitment strategies to appeal to workers across the world – not just those in your backyard. 

2. Ensure your remote work policies are actually employee-centric to increase retention rates

When you have an employee with the skills you need, you will want to keep them. However, there are likely to be a lot of other companies that want that employee, too. As a result, retention must become a higher priority. 

Remote work has been shown to improve employee happiness, and a happy employee is less likely to jump ship. With its flexibility and autonomy, remote work can significantly boost job satisfaction, reducing turnover. 

But to fully tap into this, we need to ensure that our remote work policies are truly employee-centric. This includes respecting their work-life balance, avoiding 'Zoom fatigue' with unnecessary meetings and using asynchronous communication methods that allow employees to work during their most productive hours.

3. Embrace flexibility and nurture adaptability

The remote work environment is inherently adaptable. When your office can be anywhere, you learn to adapt to new circumstances quickly. This adaptability is a powerful asset in navigating the skills gap. 

But, we need to encourage and nurture this adaptability. Companies need to proactively provide their teams with the right tools and technology to collaborate and communicate effectively. Maintaining a feedback-rich culture that supports continuous learning and improvement is also important.

4. Create a culture of learning by prioritizing reskilling and upskilling

In the face of rapid technological change, the ability to reskill and upskill is critical to closing the skills gap. In many cases, you won't be able to find someone with the skills you need, but you might have in-house employees with the aptitude to learn them. That's where reskilling and upskilling comes in. 

Remote work can facilitate this by offering greater flexibility for self-paced learning and providing access to a wider range of online courses and learning resources. Companies need to create a culture that values lifelong learning, provides resources for employee development and recognizes and rewards growth and development. 

5. Enhance your remote recruitment strategy

When it comes to finding talent in a remote work environment, the world is your oyster. It's an opportunity to break free from the confines of geographical boundaries and tap into the vast global talent pool. However, attracting and retaining talent from around the globe requires an innovative and inclusive recruitment strategy.

There are several things you can do to begin recruiting global talent. You can start by adjusting your job postings to highlight that you're open to remote candidates from anywhere and ensure your job descriptions are welcoming to diverse applicants. Then, spend some time fine-tuning your interview process to accurately assesses candidates' skills and cultural fit, regardless of their location. You'll also want a strong onboarding process if you want those global hires to stick. (Sound like too much work? We can help with global recruitment and onboarding.) 

6. Invest in better technology

Finally, In a remote work setup, technology is your lifeline. If you want to enhance your remote working situation to address skills gaps, you must ensure you have the right technology. 

It starts with reliable hardware (like laptops, monitors, keyboards, etc.) and access to the internet. Then, it's about having the right software, like Slack, Zoon, Trello, or employee monitoring software. Staying ahead of the technological curve and enabling your team to do so will prove invaluable in addressing the skills gap.

Remember, your tech stack can make or break your remote work environment, so it's worth taking the time to choose the right tools and provide the necessary training to your team.

Overcome skills gaps with Outstaffer 

In the face of a looming skills gap and talent shortage, particularly in the tech industry, remote work is a powerful tool to bridge this chasm. By moving beyond just adopting remote work and focusing on some key areas, we can leverage remote work as a potent tool in our arsenal to combat the skills gap. 

In this ever-evolving landscape, it's time to make remote work your secret weapon against the skills gap – and we can help. 

At Outstaffer, we make it easy to find, hire, manage and equip top employees from around the world in just a couple of clicks. Our recruitment experts can help you find people with the skills you need, and our EOR software can help you employ them without hassles. Additionally, we offer technology that enables your remote team to thrive, like managed devices and real-time employee monitoring.

Want to see how we can help you fill your skill gaps? Schedule your demo today.