Why IBM Takes a ‘Netflix-Style’ Approach to Upskilling

In January 2026, IBM announced its fourth quarter earnings results for 2025, with a 93.1% increase in net income compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. 

The company shared that this increase was due, in part, to IBM’s growing AI capabilities, with it now offering more AI solutions to clients. 

These solutions are often integrated internally before being used by customers, with IBM now using many of these tools across human resources, IT and finance as part of a wider business strategy. 

AI usage is increasing across industries amid widening employee concerns, as 27% of UK workers told Randstad they are concerned their jobs may disappear as a result of AI in the next five years. 

Nickle LaMoreaux, Chief Human Resources Officer at IBM, acknowledged these concerns at Tech Week 2025, saying: “I think there’s a small, short term, realistic thing that’s happening as people are saying, we don’t know what these entry-level hires will do, because with our old programmes, we don’t need them to do those things anymore.”

Developing a robust learning and development strategy, Nickle explains, is critical for not only mitigating employee fears around AI, but also the key to thriving as a business in the future of work.

She continues: “What are organisations doing around training? How are they redefining jobs? How are they thinking about not just today, three, five years out? 

“If you want to be a leading organisation, those are the conversations you should be spending time on, not on how many jobs can we get rid of.”

Workforce upskilling at IBM

IBM has developed an environment of continuous learning to keep its workforce competitive as technological capabilities evolve rapidly. 

To achieve this, employees are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of learning on its ‘Your Learning’ platform annually, with workers completing 85 hours on average. 

This platform provides employees with access to a library of courses and certifications, offering what IBM describes as ‘Netflix-style’ training recommendations – targeted training based on an employee's role, skills and career goals. 

According to IBM, this approach has led to employees learning nearly five times more material, with every dollar invested in online training leading to US$30 worth of productivity. 

Nickle explores this approach to upskilling in conversation with Forbes, saying that she believes companies should increase their focus on internal skills development: “Once skills become deeply embedded into your culture and continuous learning is the norm, your workforce will be truly prepared for the future of work.”

How skills development drives career progression at IBM

Skills development has also become a driver of internal mobility at IBM. 

Through an AI solution, the company maps employee data such as project involvement, training completed and wider contributions to build an understanding of critical skills gaps. 

From there, employees can be provided with key objectives and training to grow their careers.

This includes deployment to projects that allow employees to further develop their skills, with the company saying it operates like an ‘internal marketplace’. 

This internal marketplace approach matches employees to short-term opportunities, allowing them to refine new skills based on actual project demands, rather than theoretical training.