ETS and SHRM Collaborate to Develop and Deliver Skills-Based Talent Ecosystem

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PRINCETON, NJ and ALEXANDRIA, VA (June 24, 2024) – ETS, a global education and talent solutions organization and SHRM announced today that they will collaborate to develop and deliver a skills-based talent ecosystem. This offering will be comprised of several talent-specific elements critical to addressing the future of work, including individualized career insights, personalized learning/upskilling recommendations, as well as a SHRM-developed skills-based talent-management certification for HR professionals.

Today, continuous skill acquisition and measurement are not just aspirations but necessities in a world where skills are ever evolving and can rapidly become obsolete. According to ETS’s Human Progress Report released earlier this year, which surveyed more than 17,000 people across 17 countries, 75% of global respondents acknowledged that their current skills may become outdated as technology and industries evolve. As a result, they expressed a need and desire for reskilling opportunities but concerns around access were apparent.  

“The growing demand for reskilling and upskilling is driven by the need to ensure our workforce is prepared for the future of work, a future that’s AI-powered and requires we measure and elevate new types of skills,” said Michelle Froah, Global Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, SVP of Corporate Solutions at ETS. “The combination of ETS’s measurement expertise with evidence from the SHRM network allows both of our organizations to be well-positioned to deliver a comprehensive talent solution that helps to address some of the most pressing issues facing organizational leaders and HR professionals today.”

The SHRM skills-based hiring certification and larger dually developed ecosystem offering co-designed by ETS and SHRM will help facilitate more equitable and efficient flow, identification, acquisition, support, training/upskilling, and retention of talent across the learning-to-work continuum. SHRM’s 2023-2024 State of the Workplace Report found that the top three priorities for organizations in 2024, according to HR professionals, are: maintaining employee morale and engagement (81%); retaining top talent (78%) and finding and recruiting talent with the necessary skills (70%).

“The skills required to power organizational success are emerging and evolving faster now than at any time in our history,” said Nick Schacht, Chief Commercial Officer for SHRM. “Organizations and their human resources teams need the practices and tools for mapping current and prospective employee skills, developing future skills and competencies, and effectively planning their future workforce strategies. Combining SHRM’s understanding of best practices in talent acquisition and talent development with ETS’s unparalleled expertise in skills assessment and targeting will provide a uniquely powerful solution to today’s workforce challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.”

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About ETS

ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future ready. We advance the science of measurement to build the benchmarks for fair and valid skill assessment. We are committed to powering human progress by promoting skill proficiency, empowering upward mobility and unlocking more opportunities for everyone, everywhere. Our assessment products – including the TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, and Praxis Assessments – as well as our innovative solutions and subsidiaries help 50 million people each year to clarify their strengths and find opportunities for growth in education, work and beyond. We continue to operate around the world, with offices in 25 locations and operations in 200 countries and territories. www.ets.org

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.