CIPD: 91% of employers upskilling as candidate quality falls and attraction gets harder
The News
The CIPD published its Resourcing and Talent Planning Report 2026 on 22 September, produced in partnership with Omni RMS and based on a YouGov poll of 1,014 UK HR and people professionals conducted between 2 April and 2 May 2026. The report finds that 91% of employers are upskilling their workforce or considering doing so, driven by a deteriorating labour market: 58% reported an increase in unsuitable candidates applying for jobs over the past year, 53% of those recruiting experienced difficulties attracting candidates — particularly for senior and skilled positions — and 44% found talent harder to retain. In response, 48% want to increase in-house talent development and 45% have expanded learning and development opportunities to improve retention.
Why It Matters
The CIPD data paints a picture UK TA leaders will recognise: the external market is delivering more applicants but fewer suitable ones, and the cost of attracting the right people is rising. The near-universal turn toward upskilling signals a shift from buy to build — but the report's contributors warn that upskilling alone will not close the gap. With 58% seeing more unsuitable candidates, the quality of applicant screening and the accuracy of job specifications are coming under pressure simultaneously. TA leaders who treat upskilling as a substitute for recruitment rather than a complement risk leaving critical roles unfilled while they wait for internal capability to mature.
Taking Action
All action is situated in your corporate context. These are starting points, not prescriptions — choose what fits.
Connect
Who to talk with in your enterprise
Discuss these findings with your head of workforce planning and your L&D lead. The CIPD's Claire McCartney advises starting with a skills audit to identify where gaps exist, then building a practical plan that combines in-house development with strategic recruitment. Ask your L&D partner whether current upskilling programmes are targeted at the skills your business actually needs, or spread thinly across the workforce.
Inspect
What to take a closer look at
Check your applicant-to-hire conversion rate for senior and skilled roles against the past 12 months. If the CIPD's 53% figure resonates — more difficulty attracting candidates — audit your job specifications and salary benchmarks against the market. The 58% reporting more unsuitable applicants suggests your screening criteria may need sharpening, not loosening.
Reflect
What to think about more deeply
If 91% of employers are upskilling and 58% are seeing more unsuitable candidates, is the real problem a skills shortage in the market — or a specification problem in how you are defining and advertising the roles you need?