The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Workforce planning WFPL

(modified)

Strategically projecting the demand for people and skills and proactively planning the workforce supply to meet organisational needs.

Guidance notes

(modified)

Workforce planning typically takes an enterprise-wide view, assessing capabilities across the organisation rather than just a single team. The scope is more strategic than tactical resource allocation to projects or operational work schedules.

Activities may include — but are not limited to:

  • assessing the current state of the workforce
  • assessing organisation-wide data over extended time periods to discover multi-year trends
  • identifying critical capabilities needed to compete and meet strategic goals — not just immediate resource allocation gaps
  • identifying the workforce required for current and future activities 
  • adopting or developing a skills and capabilities framework
  • developing plans to close gaps between current state and future state using actions such as — but not limited to — external recruitment, internal development, re-skilling, sourcing external partners, organisational design, outplacement 
  • influencing organisational policies and practices to align recruitment, learning, promotion and recognition and reward to support the development of an inclusive and diverse workforce 
  • ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and ethical codes around employment practices and organisational policies. (e.g. requirements for layoffs/restructuring).

Levels

Defined at these levels: 4 5 6

Workforce planning: Levels 1-3

This skill is not typically observed when working at these levels of responsibility.

Workforce planning: Level 4

(modified)

Gathers, maintains and analyses organisation-wide workforce capability data.

Performs gap analysis to identify workforce strengths and shortfalls with reference to business strategy and specific future needs.

Contributes to the development of organisation-wide workforce plans to meet current and future demand.

Coordinates and schedules ongoing workforce planning activities. Assists in maintaining a skills and capability inventory.

Workforce planning: Level 5

(modified)

Leads the development of workforce plans to ensure the availability of appropriately skilled resources to meet organisational objectives and commitments.

Contributes to the development of the strategic workforce planning approach. Oversees and reviews the implementation of workforce plans.

Develops current-state assessment of workforce skills, capabilities and potential. Forecasts future workforce demand for skills based on broad organisation-wide plans and external factors.

Maintains a skills and capability inventory and identifies options for closing gaps.

Workforce planning: Level 6

(modified)

Defines an integrated strategic workforce planning approach connecting organisational business goals to future skill needs.

Communicates the workforce planning approach and obtains organisational commitment. Selects frameworks to be used for the organisation's skills and capability inventory.

Interprets business strategy to direct workforce demand forecasting (skills and numbers) for the organisation. Monitors the external environment in relation to supply and emerging trends.

Influences people management policies and practices to align with workforce plans. Integrates with resourcing strategies and plans. Monitors execution of workforce plans.

Workforce planning: Level 7

This skill is not typically observed when working at this level of responsibility.