Assessing Worker Competency: Challenges in Today’s Environment

Every business owner knows that change is the only thing that’s certain in the workplace. However, that means assessing worker competency has become increasingly challenging. Technological advancements, changing job roles, and shifting market expectations are just some of the developments that make it tricky.  Nevertheless, competency assessments continue to be an essential component of guaranteeing business success. 
Let's examine the top four challenges and ways you can overcome them. 

1. Complex and changing work environment

The pace of change in today’s dynamic workplaces is fast and furious. Integrating new technology and ways of working and responding to changing compliance and health and safety requirements means the workplace is constantly moving. Workers are acquiring new skills all the time. 
For example, a construction project manager today may need skills in sustainable building practices that would have been unheard of even five years ago. Nowadays, it's harder than ever to come up with consistent assessment criteria for workers. 
What’s needed to keep pace with change is a flexible, adaptable competency management tool that you can update in real time.

2. Subjectivity and measurement validity in assessments

Another significant challenge is ensuring assessments are objective and valid. Too often, evaluations rely on subjective criteria like a supervisor's feedback. What’s more, standardised tests don’t always fully capture a worker’s abilities. For example, creativity and critical thinking skills are notoriously hard to test. 
Establishing transparent, standardised and unbiased performance measurements is crucial. One way to do so is to incorporate diverse assessment tools, including peer reviews and 360-degree feedback, for more balanced competency assessments.

3. Integration with future workforce needs

Rather than future-proofing the organisation, competency management can be too focused on the here and now. It doesn’t always take account of the potential and ability of the workforce to meet future demands. However, a proactive approach is essential if companies are to be adequately prepared for future challenges. 
Workforce planning and training analytics can help you identify the competencies that will be in demand. Integrating these into your competency frameworks ensures your assessments are aligned with current and future needs. ​

4. Resource and training constraints

Rather than future-proofing the organisation, competency management can be too focused on the here and now. It doesn’t always take account of the potential and ability of the workforce to meet future demands. However, a proactive approach is essential if companies are to be adequately prepared for future challenges. 
Workforce planning and training analytics can help you identify the competencies that will be in demand. Integrating these into your competency frameworks ensures your assessments are aligned with current and future needs. ​

CheckSafe helps you address the challenges

If your organisation is struggling to assess worker competency, the good news is there’s a cost-effective solution out there to help you better manage the process.  
CheckSafe’s competency management software provides a centralised platform for managing all your training records, skills matrix and verification of competency documents. 
Using real-time data, our assessments remain relevant even in a changing workplace. What’s more, CheckSafe integrates predictive analytics to align workforce skills with future needs. 
With competency tracking software like CheckSafe, you can take and retain control of assessing worker competency. 
Sign up for a free demo to find out more. ​