Reviving the Art of Apprenticeship to Unlock Continuous Skill Development | McKinsey Quarterly

According to BCG’s 2021 research on 32 HR and people practices, upskilling, reskilling, and learning and development ranked #2 in terms of the most significant gaps between current capabilities and future importance. Similarly, LinkedIn’s 2021 Workplace Learning Report, found that upskilling and reskilling is the top priority for L&D pros globally. And while many L&D teams are working hard to address upskilling and reskilling, this new McKinsey article notes that only 42 percent of employees are taking up employer-supported reskilling and upskilling opportunities in their organizations. As firms close skills gaps in their workforce, this article calls for reviving the art of apprenticeships as a solution. It argues that apprenticeships—where any colleague with domain expertise is empowered to teach key skills, model behaviors, and transfer skills—can build skills that today’s knowledge-based workforce requires. It is based on a learning model that “distributes apprenticeship skills and responsibilities throughout the organization.” The article provides four ways to introduce apprenticeships as one skill-building tactic that augments formal learning programs, mentorships, and sponsorships. Could apprenticeships be integrated into your firm’s 2022 upskilling and reskilling strategy?