Closing the Skills Gap: Advancing Workforce Development in Public Sector IT
On September 18, 2025, Leadership Connect hosted an in-depth conversation on one of the federal government’s most pressing challenges: preparing a future-ready IT workforce. The webinar, Closing the Skills Gap: Advancing Workforce Development in Public Sector IT, brought together senior leaders from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to discuss how agencies can build a stronger pipeline of digital talent, drive meaningful reskilling initiatives, and partner across sectors to meet fast-evolving mission needs.
As digital transformation accelerates, the public sector’s success hinges on its people. The conversation focused on how agencies are addressing IT workforce shortages not just with hiring, but with targeted programs, policy innovation, and cultural change. From AI upskilling to public-private collaboration, panelists shared practical strategies and programs already making an impact across government.
Missed the conversation? Check out the highlights below and watch the whole webinar here and make sure to follow our Events Page to get in on the next conversation.
The Skills Gap Is Complex — and Coordination Is Key
Panelists acknowledged that the federal IT skills gap is not limited to a single discipline. While specialties like cybersecurity and AI are high-profile, the real challenge lies in coordinating workforce planning across sprawling agencies. In some cases, individual bureaus are making significant progress, conducting gap analyses, aligning training to mission priorities, and designing workforce strategies that deliver measurable results. But panelists noted that scaling these efforts across entire departments or the federal enterprise remains difficult.
For acquisition professionals specifically, the challenge is generational. Many workers entered the field before digital tools were central to procurement, and they now face a steep learning curve. But the outlook is optimistic: agencies are investing in smarter training models, and more professionals are stepping up to learn new tech to better serve their missions.
Programs That Work: Investing in People Pays Off
Despite budget pressures and hiring constraints, both speakers emphasized that strategic investments in workforce development yield real returns. Several standout programs were highlighted:
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CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service: This program supports students pursuing cybersecurity degrees in exchange for federal service, helping agencies recruit skilled professionals early in their careers.
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Defense Civilian Training Corps: Targeting undergraduate students, this initiative introduces young talent to public service and IT through immersive training, ensuring they enter the workforce with both skills and a public service mindset.
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DITAP (Digital IT Acquisition Professional): This six-month training model re-energizes mid-career acquisition professionals by immersing them in digital services, shadowing CIOs, and learning new tools like robotic process automation. The result? A workforce ready to innovate from within.
These and other initiatives show that when agencies prioritize upskilling, even with limited budgets, they create motivated, capable employees who stay longer and contribute more.
Readiness for Emerging Tech Starts with Just-in-Time Learning
The federal workforce is being asked to adopt and implement emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, often faster than training pipelines can keep up. Panelists discussed several approaches that are helping bridge this readiness gap:
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Agencies are increasingly using micro-credentials, especially for AI, to allow just-in-time skill development that matches evolving needs.
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Government-wide communities of practice are supporting this shift. For example, the GSA’s AI Community of Practice, in partnership with Stanford University, has launched AI training programs that serve a broad range of federal professionals.
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Acquisition and IT leaders are being challenged to lead by example, embracing hands-on training themselves and encouraging experimentation within their teams.
Panelists cautioned that deploying tools without sufficient training puts teams at risk of burnout and misuse. Successful tech adoption, they argued, starts with understanding why a tool is needed, and ensuring that employees feel equipped and supported when it arrives.
Collaboration with Industry and Academia Is Essential
Closing the IT skills gap requires more than internal solutions. Both speakers agreed: government cannot do this alone. Academic institutions, training vendors, and private sector partners all play essential roles in preparing a mission-ready workforce.
Panelists emphasized the importance of partnership models that go beyond procurement. The civilian training ecosystem, especially through the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI), relies on vendors to deliver impactful, up-to-date instruction. Flexible models like these are helping agencies scale training without building new infrastructure.
Meanwhile, agencies are also increasingly engaging early with universities to recruit students and shape curriculum that reflects federal needs. These long-term partnerships allow agencies to build pipelines of digital talent that are aligned with mission and ready to serve from day one.
Retention Relies on Connection, Growth, and Recognition
Recruiting skilled IT professionals is only half the battle, retaining them is equally urgent. Panelists discussed several factors that matter most:
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Mission connection: When employees see how their work directly supports public outcomes, they are more likely to stay invested and engaged.
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Career mobility: Rotational opportunities, interagency details, and clear development paths help employees grow without needing to leave government.
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Culture of support: Panelists emphasized the need to reduce bureaucratic barriers and foster environments where employees feel trusted and valued.
Strategic workforce planning also plays a role. Agencies that conduct forward-looking analyses, like forecasting retirements or identifying role-based skills gaps, are better positioned to retain top talent and fill gaps before they grow.
Planning the Future Workforce: AI-Literate and Mission-Driven
Looking ahead, the panel concluded with a shared view: the future federal IT workforce must be agile, mission-driven, and deeply knowledgeable about new technologies. Agencies need both a core cadre of AI experts and broader teams equipped with foundational literacy in digital tools.
Success depends on curiosity and a culture that encourages continuous learning. Training must evolve as technology evolves, and planning must anticipate not just what skills are needed, but how organizations will change as a result.
How Leadership Connect Supports Smarter Workforce Development
As agencies scale digital capabilities and invest in the next generation of IT professionals, Leadership Connect provides essential tools to help teams move faster, align efforts, and build the relationships that matter.
Connect with the right people, instantly
Our core platform puts hundreds of thousands of public sector leaders at your fingertips, across federal agencies, Congress, contractors, law firms, think tanks, and more. Identify decision-makers, map reporting lines, and stay updated on career moves to keep your strategy aligned with the people driving change.
Collaborate with clarity
Collab helps your team manage stakeholder relationships, track outreach, and share insights across departments, all in one secure, auto-updating workspace. No more spreadsheets, no more duplication, just a clear view of who’s doing what, and where opportunities lie.
Build strategic communities
Networks by Leadership Connect help federal teams build meaningful relationships with key external partners, from higher ed institutions to policy influencers. Whether you’re running outreach campaigns, shaping partnerships, or recruiting next-gen talent, Networks gives you the context and contacts to act with confidence.
Explore how Leadership Connect empowers your team to recruit smarter, train better, and move with speed in a rapidly changing IT landscape. Explore our products to see how we can help you lead with clarity and confidence.
