How to create an effective skills matrix for your workforce (+ free downloadable template)

Want to know what successful organisations have in common? They have the right people with the right skills at the right time. Top-performing businesses have a thorough understanding of what skills and competencies the workforce needs to succeed.
A skills matrix is a straightforward but powerful tool to help you assess, track and develop your people's skills. Supervisors can more easily identify skills gaps. And hiring managers know exactly what skills are needed when recruiting.
This article takes you through all you need to know about a skills matrix, including how to get started in five simple steps. And to make it even easier, we share a ready-made template you can download and adapt.
Let's get started.

What is a skills matrix?

A skills matrix visually represents your employees' competencies across the skills needed for their roles.
Managers can easily see who has the necessary qualifications, so the right people are assigned to specific tasks.
It also means organisations can identify training needs and ensure the workforce is ready to meet current and future challenges.

How to create a skills matrix?

You can develop an effective skills matrix with these five simple steps:

1. Define key skills and competencies

The first step involves identifying the essential skills required for each company role. So, for industries like construction and manufacturing, this will include technical skills, safety training, equipment operation, compliance certifications, and more.

2. Assess employee skills levels

Next, evaluate your employees' current skills and qualifications. Get an accurate picture with a mix of self-assessments, supervisor evaluations and competency tests.
Develop a standardised rating system to help you quantify levels of proficiency. Here's one you can adapt to suit your organisation:

1. Beginner: limited knowledge, requires supervision
   
2. Intermediate: can perform tasks independently 
   
3. Advanced: expert level, can train others
   
4. Certified: official certification or compliance standards met ​
   

3. Identify gaps and plan training

​Now's the time to analyse the results. The visual nature of the skills matrix quickly highlights areas of strength, skills gaps and where employees need training.

4. Develop an action plan

Use the data and insights gathered from the skills matrix to set clear goals for what needs to be done next. You may need to create a plan for skills training or hire new employees to address any skills gaps.

5. Review regularly

A skills matrix shouldn’t be a one-off, tick-box exercise. If you want to get the best from this powerful tool, you must keep it updated, even more so in industries where regulations change all the time. So, be sure to review employees' skills and certifications regularly. ​

Free skills matrix template

Ready to take the next step? Download the CheckSafe skills matrix template today and take the first step in managing your workforce competency.

Switch to a digital skills matrix with CheckSafe

Spreadsheets are great for small businesses with a handful of workers. However, they have limitations when it comes to larger ones with lots of employees. The more people and data you have, the more complex and unwieldy the spreadsheet becomes. 
That’s where CheckSafe comes in. 
Our online platform can scale with your organisation and offers real-time updates, on-the-move access and automated tracking of employee competencies. 
Find out how you can save time and a whole lot of hassle with a free demo of the CheckSafe platform.