The Skills Gap Solution: An LMS for AEC&M Companies

Break the hiring loop with a Learning Management System and training library purpose-built for architecture, engineering, construction, and manufacturing businesses.

It’s no secret that the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Manufacturing (AEC&M) industries are facing a critical shortage of qualified workers—and that the problem is only growing worse.

As experienced employees leave the workforce, new technologies and constantly evolving software shift required skill sets, and industry demand outpaces industry growth, recruitment has become a relentless pain point. Simply put, there are not enough workers in the hiring pool to meet the demand for labor.

These long-term challenges are outside the scope of any individual business’s influence. However, industry leaders can shift the balance in their favor by investing in internal training initiatives.

The skills gap is a problem with a solution.

Employee training nurtures talent within the workforce, helping entry-level employees gain qualifications the longer they stay with the company. Many employees also need training support to keep up with the pace of technological change, such as knowing how to perform a specific task within a recently updated piece of software.

For these workers, accessibility is key. Our Pinnacle Series LMS provides just-in-time training libraries in key industry software—including AutoDesk, Revit, Procore, and SolidWorks—consisting of 7,000 training paths and over 30,000 on-demand videos.

Read more: Understanding the E-Learning Solution to the Skills Gap Crisis »

Manufacturing and Construction need to move quickly.

The Manufacturing and Construction industries are feeling the skills gap most keenly. These industries have struggled to attract young workers at a time when investment in large-scale construction projects and advanced manufacturing are surging.

The good news is that training support in these industries can be an even bigger competitive advantage, by helping companies attract new workers, improving the capabilities of those workers, and retaining those workers long term.

Read more:
Why Training Is the Solution to the Manufacturing Skills Gap »
How Online Training Can Resolve the Construction Labor Shortage »

Retention is just as important as recruitment.

It’s tempting to view the skills gap only from an angle of employee recruitment, but industry research shows that training is one of the most highly sought benefits among workers. 65% of those surveyed in a joint study carried out by Gallup and Amazon said they considered upskilling opportunities to be “very important” when applying for a new job, while those in the 18–24 age demographic valued training more highly than life insurance, retirement, parental leave, and vacation.

In light of these statistics, a robust learning system such as Pinnacle Series becomes an important signal to employees that your business is committed to their training and development—no dead-end jobs offered here.

Read more:
How Training Builds a Culture of Employee Retention »
How Knowledge Sharing Stems the Hidden Costs of Lost Experience »

Generic LMS solutions fall short of industry needs.

Many LMS solutions available on the market offer plenty of features but fall short on content, leaving course development to AEC&M businesses themselves. Pinnacle Series comes fully loaded with twenty-five training libraries covering the most widely used industry software programs.

However, as an LMS, we also offer course creation tools that let our users edit content to meet their internal standards—including custom workflows to ensure their standards are met at all times.

Read more:
Key Factors when Searching for an LMS for Manufacturing »
How to Select an LMS for Construction »

Identifying skill gaps leads to more efficient training.

While businesses know that the skills gap exists as a broad industry trend, pinpointing exact skill gaps becomes more challenging on an individual level. This is where skills assessment tools such as KnowledgeSmart become invaluable.

Employers can use KnowledgeSmart to identify training needs within their current workforce, or to assess applicants. The tool ties into Pinnacle Series to provide employees with a learning path customized to address their specific needs. If used during the hiring process, the new employee can begin their day one onboarding with courses already lined up to fill their training needs.

Read more:
Using KnowledgeSmart to Identify Skill Gaps in the Workforce »
6 Benefits of Using our AEC&M LMS to Support Employee Training »

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