A new report from a major Canadian tech firm reveals a “growing divide between intent and impact” when it comes to upskilling talent.
Absorb Software’s 2025 edition of its State of Upskilling report examines what is working in the world of upskilling, what is not, and what is next.
“Upskilling is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a business imperative,” explains chief executive officer Kimberly Williams. “But intent alone doesn’t move the needle.”
And it must also be said that upskilling is not “a one-size-fits-all solution,” according to Saravana Sivanandham, who serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Absorb Software. “That’s why many past efforts have fallen short.”
What is needed, says Williams, is “strategic learning.”
The CEO describes strategic learning as “a system built to scale, adapt, and prove impact.”
But many organizations lack the resources to deliver, Absorb’s report found, with more than one-third lack the tools to operationalize upskilling ambitions.
There’s also an “agility gap,” according to the Calgary-based company, which notes that just 10% of organizations actively upskill workforces in response to shifting business needs.
And yet the pressure to effectively implement upskilling is reaching a fever pitch.
Hybrid work and AI, another other factors, are driving dramatic shifts across workforces. Amid rapid change, agile and scalable upskilling solutions appear essential for organizational resilience moving forward.
“Today’s learning programs must go beyond intent—they must deliver impact,” argues Sivanandham. “That means aligning learning with business outcomes, empowering learners with the right tools, and using data to scale what works.”
Absorb is “meeting this moment with purpose-built innovation,” says Williams. “Our AI-powered Strategic Learning System delivers scalable, hyper-personalized, and measurable learning experiences that drive real business impact—helping our customers close skills gaps faster, boost engagement, and align learning with strategic priorities.”
Indeed, AI may prove key to enabling upskilling at scale, according to Sivanandham.
“At Absorb, we’re using AI to gain a deeper understanding of the unique roles, skills, competencies, and learning paths that vary across organizations,” the CMO stated. “Combined with our Strategic Learning Playbooks, this AI-driven approach helps overcome executional challenges and ensures upskilling efforts deliver measurable impact for our customers.”
