Globally, nearly half of employees’ skills face disruption by 2030,1 creating a pressing challenge for organizations that rely on agility and innovation to stay competitive. Without a strategy to address these gaps, organizations risk inefficiency, stunted growth, and falling behind their competitors. The question is no longer whether companies need to scale, but how quickly they can act to make it happen.
Chipotle is showing the way. By expanding its education benefits internationally through Guild, the company is dismantling barriers to growth and ensuring its workforce is ready to meet the demands of a rapidly shifting economy where it continues to turn skilling into a strategic advantage.
The stakes for global business are high.
The numbers paint a grim picture of what’s at stake. By 2030, the global talent shortage is expected to cost businesses $8.5 trillion in unrealized revenue.2 Meanwhile, in a moment when innovation is essential to remaining competitive, skills mismatches are costing companies dearly: nearly 60% of Canadian businesses using advanced technology report that skills shortages are slowing progress.3
The growing skills gap is a direct threat to innovation and growth. Without access to consistent, scalable skilling solutions, companies are left with teams that can’t keep up — slowing adaptation, stalling innovation, and ultimately falling behind in a world that demands agility.
Chipotle’s approach to workforce development shows global growth is possible.
Chipotle has long understood that investing in employee growth is an investment in the business itself. In the US, its partnership with Guild has already produced measurable results: employees enrolled in education programs are 6x more likely to advance into management positions. Now, the company is bringing those benefits to its international workforce.
“By supporting our employees to enhance their skills and grow their careers, we’ve reduced turnover, increased retention, and most importantly, developed future leaders from within.”
Daniel Banks, Director of Global Benefits, Chipotle Mexican Grill
"By supporting our employees to enhance their skills and grow their careers, we've reduced turnover, increased retention, and most importantly, developed future leaders from within," said Daniel Banks, Director of Global Benefits at Chipotle.
For employees like Anuraj Gurung, this investment is life-changing. Originally from Nepal, Anuraj moved to Canada to pursue higher education. With Guild’s support, he’s now completing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in project management — all without all without the long term financial stress that often comes with paying for a degree.
“Thanks to Guild and Chipotle, I can study stress-free without worrying about finances,” Anuraj shared. “Knowing that Chipotle invests in growth motivates me to bring my best for the job every day.”
A model for global skilling that drives results.
Historically, companies have struggled to offer education benefits to international employees in ways that are relevant for the local learning environment, culturally appropriate, and compliant with fast-changing regional laws. Guild’s global platform is designed to solve these issues, providing a seamless way for organizations to support their employees no matter where they’re located.
This approach not only meets employees where they are but also ensures that skilling efforts can be measured and optimized across geographies. For companies like Chipotle, that means real-time insights into the impact of education programs and the ability to drive transformation at scale.
The lesson: Treat skilling as a cornerstone of business success.
Chipotle’s global skilling strategy offers a clear takeaway: solving talent gaps requires bold action and a more unified approach. Skilling programs that are fragmented or under-resourced only exacerbate inefficiencies, leaving companies unable to adapt to new technologies and shifting market demands.
As workforce transformation becomes a critical business priority, organizations must look beyond regional solutions to strategies that empower employees everywhere. Chipotle’s investment demonstrates what’s possible when skilling is treated not as a benefit, but as a cornerstone of business success.
The question now is: how will your organization prepare for what’s next?
- Springboard, Workforce Skills Gap Trends 2024: Survey Report
- Korn Ferry, The $8.5 Trillion Talent Shortage, 2024
- Statistics Canada, Skill shortages among innovative businesses and businesses using advanced technology, modified 30 April 2024
