With the huge amount of training resources available, why do skills gaps persist? And why are they so extreme? According to research by McKinsey, 87 percent of employees lack the skills they need to be successful in their careers, even though employers spend, on average, $1,308 per worker on training every year. One of the main problems is ensuring training is appropriate and applicable. According to the Harvard Business Review, only 12 percent of employees can apply the skills learned in training to their jobs. To better align training with employee needs, start by having a conversation to identify where skills gaps exist and design training that concentrates on skills verification more than course completion. Make sure training is compelling and collaborative, and understand your audience. Different demographics tend to desire training to be delivered in different ways. Younger employees, for instance, are usually more technologically inclined and tend to want training on demand, whereas more senior employees are more likely to prefer traditional classrooms.