Panel – The Impact of IT Certification on Employee Retention and Skills Gaps

The United States’ leadership position in the tech industry may be at risk, thanks to the global talent shortage. According to consulting firm Korn Ferry, when considering tech alone, the U.S. stands to lose upwards of $162 billion in revenue unless it finds—or trains—more high-tech workers to fill that skills gap. Faced with this conundrum, how are companies adapting and what are they doing to resolve it?

Findings from recent global surveys of the IT community, including employers, showed that the IT community places a great deal of value on certification and credentialing. Our analysis of the survey data revealed a clear and common thread: the importance individuals place on IT certification and the sustained efforts most put into attaining their goals (Pearson VUE 2021 Value of IT Certification Report).

The results also showed that many employers, struggling to build teams able to keep pace with technological advancements and frustrated by the resulting skills gaps, began considering anew the value that IT certifications might offer. And as they realized outcomes like improved quality of work, productivity, efficiency, innovation, and the ability to mentor others, the downstream impacts to profitability began to reveal themselves as well (Pearson VUE 2021 Value of IT Certification Employer Report). Certification helped most respondents fill a skills gap and improve their job performance; they also enjoyed pay raises, promotions, and the newfound respect of leaders and peers. And it wasn’t just the individuals who felt the positive impacts.

Employers reaped the benefits of certification by gaining employees with increased quality of work, higher productivity, greater efficiency, and stronger mentoring skills. It’s clear that in today’s IT workforce, certifications are rapidly becoming more of an imperative than a superfluous qualification.

This panel discussion will reveal key takeaways from the research reports, together with steps to mitigate bottom-line impacts, close skills gaps, and boost everything from productivity to morale.

In this session, you will learn:

• Why people pursue IT certifications
• How and why businesses are investing in upskilling
• About the impacts of IT certification on talent acquisition and retention
• More on the potential ROI for the organization