1. Team Setup
Rate each skill on a 0 - 5 scale (0 = none, 5 = expert). Weight = importance to role (1 = low, 5 = critical).
| Skill | Current (0 - 5) | Required (0 - 5) | Weight (1 - 5) | Hrs / Level | Remove |
|---|
3. Results
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/ 100
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Overall Skill Gap
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Total Training Hours
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Total Training Cost
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Cost / Employee
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Per-Skill Breakdown (sorted by priority)
| Skill | Gap (Levels) | Gap % | Priority | Team Hours | Cost |
|---|
Enter your team skills above to see a readiness summary here.
How It Works
1
Define Your Team
Enter team size, average hourly wage, and training cost per hour to enable cost estimation.
2
Rate Each Skill
Score current proficiency (where the team is) and required proficiency (where they need to be) on a 0 - 5 scale. Set each skill’s importance weight.
3
Get Priorities & Cost
The estimator calculates a readiness score, sorts gaps by priority (Critical to Low), and estimates total training hours and cost to close each gap.
Core Formulas
Gap (levels) = max(0, Required − Current) Gap % = Gap ÷ Required × 100 Priority Score = Gap × Weight (0 - 25) Critical ≥ 16 | High ≥ 10 | Medium ≥ 5 | Low < 5 Team Hours = Gap × Hours/Level × Employees Cost = Team Hours × (Hourly Wage + Training Cost/hr) Readiness Score = 100 − Overall Weighted Gap %
Frequently Asked Questions - Skill Gap Estimator
What is a skill gap? +
A skill gap is the difference between the skills a team currently has and the skills they need to perform effectively in their roles. Identifying skill gaps helps HR teams and L&D leaders prioritize training investments and build targeted development plans.
How should I rate current vs required skill levels? +
Use a 0 - 5 scale: 0 = no ability, 1 = beginner, 2 = basic, 3 = intermediate, 4 = advanced, 5 = expert. Rate the team’s average, not individual employees. Required level should reflect what the role demands for fully effective performance.
What does the readiness score mean? +
The Readiness Score = 100 − Overall Weighted Skill Gap %. A score of 85+ means the team is Ready for their current roles. 65 - 84 = Nearly Ready, 40 - 64 = Needs Development, below 40 = Significant Gap exists and urgent training investment is recommended.
How is training cost estimated? +
Cost = Team Training Hours × (Avg Hourly Wage + Training Cost per Hour). This covers both the opportunity cost of employee time and the direct training expense. Adjust the hourly training cost to match your LMS platform or trainer fees.
Can I add my own skills? +
Yes - click “+ Add Skill” to add any custom skill relevant to your team or role. Remove skills you don’t need with the × button. Click “Reset to Defaults” to restore the four pre-loaded skills anytime.
Is my data saved anywhere? +
No data leaves your browser. All calculations run entirely in JavaScript on your device. Your inputs are cached in your browser’s localStorage for convenience between sessions but are never transmitted to any server. SmallHRTools is privacy-first.