Free Talent Gap Analysis Template by Risely

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Talent Gap Analysis Template

Your toolkit for developing effective leadership

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By using this Talent Gap Analysis Template, you will

• Identify skill and competency gaps across roles and teams
• Align talent capabilities with current and future business goals
• Prioritize critical development areas for your workforce
• Build a foundation for effective upskilling and reskilling initiatives

More about the Free Talent Gap Analysis Template

Businesses are transforming rapidly, but talent strategies often lag behind. As roles evolve and new technologies emerge, the skills your team needs today may not be enough for tomorrow. That’s why a clear understanding of your talent gaps is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Risely’s Free Talent Gap Analysis Template helps you take a proactive approach. Instead of reacting to performance issues or missed goals, you’ll be equipped to forecast needs, plan development, and stay ahead of change.

This talent gap analysis template enables you to:

• Map out the core competencies and skills required for each role or team
• Assess where your current workforce stands—objectively and consistently
• Identify the mismatch between available capabilities and strategic goal
• Uncover hidden opportunities for internal mobility, cross-training, or coaching
• Prioritize which gaps are critical to close in the short vs. long term

Whether you’re leading a growing startup or scaling an enterprise L&D function, talent gap analysis supports smarter decisions around hiring, training, and succession planning. It works equally well for annual planning or as a quick diagnostic before launching a new initiative.

We also provide examples, role-based templates, and a step-by-step guide to help you get started right away, even if you’re running this process for the first time.

With Risely’s free talent gap analysis template in hand, you’re not just analyzing. You’re laying the groundwork for a resilient, future-ready workforce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a talent gap analysis?

A talent gap analysis is a strategic tool used to identify the gap between the talent your organization currently has and the talent it needs now and in the future. It looks at skills, competencies, roles, and potential to determine where the workforce may fall short in supporting business goals.

This analysis helps HR and L&D teams plan for upskilling, hiring, succession planning, and future-proofing the organization.

How does a talent gap analysis differ from a skill gap analysis?

While they’re closely related, there’s the key difference to note:

• A skill gap analysis focuses on specific abilities—like software expertise, data analysis, or communication. It’s tactical and often used at the team or individual level.
• A talent gap analysis is broader. It includes skills, competencies, experience levels, leadership potential, and more. It looks at the overall talent landscape and how well it aligns with long-term business strategy.

Think of it this way: skill gaps are part of a bigger talent picture. A talent gap analysis is your strategic zoom-out.

How to do a talent gap analysis?

The major steps in a talent gap analysis are:

• Define your future goals: What’s the business aiming to achieve in the next 1–3 years?
• Identify required roles and competencies: What roles, skills, and behaviors will be needed to hit those goals?
• Assess current talent: Use performance data, feedback, and assessments to understand what your workforce looks like today.
• Spot the gaps: Where are you under-resourced? Which critical capabilities are missing or underdeveloped?
• Prioritize and act: Create a plan to address high-impact gaps through training, hiring, or internal mobility.
• Track progress: Reassess regularly as your strategy and workforce evolve.

Download Risely’s free talent gap analysis template to do all this without missing a beat! 

Get started with your Free Talent Gap Analysis Template.

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