People networking for jobs via LinkedIn will now be able to do some skill development there too, using just-acquired Lynda.com, which offers video courses on career skills to paying subscribers.

By making this major acquisition, LinkedIn will become more than a repository for resumes and job histories. It has already moved in new directions by soliciting business personalities to write original content, and by hiring Dan Roth, a former Fortune editor, to be its executive editor. And now it hopes to connect people seeking professional opportunities with training in the skills to take advantage of them.

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner blogged “High-quality, skills-based learning and development content should be available to every LinkedIn member and a fundamental part of our platform. Both companies believe strongly that the growing skills gap is one of the biggest challenges to the future of a global economy.”

Business pundits find the addition of professional development to be a good strategic fit for LinkedIn. Some talent development professionals may be smiling to themselves.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/business/dealbook/linkedin-to-buy-lyndacom-an-online-learning-company.html?\_r=0