Lack of data literacy costs employers 5 days of productivity each year, study says

Dive Brief:

Employees' lack of data literacy costs employers five days of productivity per person each year, according to a Jan. 22 report from Accenture and Qlik.
Data can fuel a culture of innovation and growth but when employees don't know how to use it, productivity suffers thanks to procrastination and sick leave, the researchers said. An "eye-opening" three quarters of employees report feeling overwhelmed when working with data, the groups said, with some avoiding such tasks altogether.
The key is continuous learning, according to the study. "There has been a focus on giving employees self-service access to data, rather than building individuals’ self-sufficiency to work with it," Jordan Morrow, global head of data literacy at Qlik, said in a statement. "Yet, expecting employees to work with data without providing the right training or appropriate tools is a bit like going fishing without the rods, bait or nets — you may have led them to water but you aren’t helping them to catch a fish.”

Dive Insight:

Workers are well aware of their skill gaps, according to other research. In fact, 37% of employees responding to a 2019 survey said they lacked proficiency in at least one skill or subject needed for a current or past job. Perhaps worse, more than 40% said they're uncomfortable asking their employer for training. Instead, many reported turning to a partner, child or grandchild for help.

Employees in other surveys have said they're ready and willing to participate in workplace training, but that they expect employers to initiate the effort — and foot the bill.

Learning and development professionals may be prepared to design and lead learning efforts, but they'll first have to identify a workforce's skill gaps. Data literacy may be one, but others are likely lurking, experts previously told HR Dive. A "performance analysis" — a review of customer complaints or refund data, for example — can inform learning priorities. Once a gap is identified, employers can train directly to those competencies, the experts said.