Every day, I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to meet and be inspired by incredible individuals who have transformed their careers — and their entire lives — by learning new skills and taking advantage of new technology. And as I watch the number of Trailhead learners increase on a daily basis, I have a continued appreciation for the value of new platforms for learning, and the impact they can have.

But workforce development is a much bigger task than one company — or one career path — can solve. The Fourth Industrial Revolution brings a wealth of exciting opportunities for businesses and workers alike. But if we’re not mindful, we risk leaving behind many of our friends and coworkers without the skills and tools they need to thrive in this new era, not to mention a talent pool that doesn’t meet the needs of modern businesses. I wondered: how do companies across industries view this quandary, and what are they doing to prepare themselves and their employees?

A new Salesforce Research Report, “The Future of Workforce Development,” provides data-fueled answers to precisely these questions. Through a survey of 750 hiring managers across industries and departments, the report finds a disconnect; there's a recognized need for workforce development programs but a lack of urgency to act. This signals alarm bells, but also opportunity for companies that act. Here are a few highlights.

As technology advances, in-demand skills are being redefined

Shifting demand for various skill sets is not a new concept. But hiring managers are bracing for nothing short of a workforce transformation over the next several years. Case in point: The proliferation of the internet of things (IoT) will require savvy abstract thinking of new ways to engage customers, as well as the engineering talent to make it a reality. The exponential growth of artificial intelligence (AI), in particular, means we’re poised to see unprecedented changes on this front. In fact, 62% of hiring managers we surveyed believe that AI will change how we work within five years, and 59% say AI will impact the skills their companies need.

But while technical skills are forecasted to see skyrocketing demand — 77% of hiring managers, for example, expect software development skills to become more important — sophisticated soft skills will also be valued more. Seventy-six percent of hiring managers say collaboration and teamwork skills will become more important, and 73% say the same for creative and abstract thinking. In other words, anyone — regardless of their interests and aptitudes — has an opportunity to thrive in an evolving technology landscape.