Buenos Aires, November 29 (NA) -- The difficulty in finding employees with the necessary skills is one of the main challenges facing companies in Argentina, according to a private study. According to a survey by IAE Business School and IDEA Relevamientos, 9 out of 10 companies acknowledge they cannot easily find the profiles they need, highlighting a gap between the skills demanded by companies and those offered by the labor market. As reported by Agencia Noticias Argentinas, the survey 'Analysis of the skills gap required by companies in Argentina' found that seven out of ten companies attribute the problem to outdated or insufficient education in institutions. Which are the most difficult positions to fill? Positions in technology (49%) and commercial roles (45%) are the most difficult to fill. Large companies face greater complications in finding technology-related positions (61%). SMEs identified their main obstacle as commercial positions (51%). Beyond formal education, soft skills such as self-management (31%) and teamwork (22%) are the most difficult to find. The skills gap is more pronounced in mid-level and leadership positions, where it directly impacts productivity and team management capabilities. "This mismatch between required and available skills reduces the competitiveness of companies. Cognitive skills, such as creativity and problem-solving, are also among the most in-demand and scarce," the survey notes. From the candidates' perspective, base salary (53%) and work modality (40%) are the main reasons for rejecting job offers, with a preference for hybrid or remote work. 94% of companies indicate there is a gap between the capabilities they expect and those candidates bring. "Just as companies must invest in training, the education system also needs to update its teaching models," said Luciana Paoletti, executive director of IDEA. 70% of companies attribute the deficit of people with in-demand skills to outdated or insufficient education in institutions, while 50% mention the difficulty of adapting to demanding or changing work environments. Lack of practical experience (45%) and low motivation for continuous learning (38%) round out the main causes of the skills mismatch between supply and demand. Julián Irigoin, professor of Human Behavior in Organizations at IAE Business School, stated that "companies of all sizes and sectors report a gap between the skills they say they need and what they find." "The skill area where the gap is most relevant is self-management, largely composed of attitudes: motivation and self-awareness, curiosity and continuous learning, reliability and attention to detail, resilience, flexibility, and agility. At the same time, it forces many companies to allocate more resources to internal training to cover these gaps. This data should be considered in curriculum design from early stages," he concluded.
