Employees fear their companies are not doing enough to prepare them to thrive, according a study commissioned by Spherion Staffing. Employers worry that their teams’ skills development and training discontent will make already-challenging retention efforts even more difficult, .

Nearly one-third of workers surveyed, 32%, believe their current skills will prevent them from earning a promotion, down from 36% in 2015 survey. Similarly, 35% are concerned about falling behind in acquiring the new skills required to succeed in more advanced future positions, unchanged from 2015 and 2014.

The survey found 32% do not feel his or her company has provided adequate skills training. Additionally, 40% reported they find it difficult to devote time to pursuing skills development opportunities.

The survey also found 45% of companies reported they have increased their investment in training and development programs during the last two years. However, only 14% of workers would give their company’s training and development programs an “A” grade.

“Employees who believe their workplace does not provide relevant and practical skills development tools are more likely either to become unmotivated to seek growth opportunities or look elsewhere for positions more suitable to their abilities and training needs,” said Spherion Division President Sandy Mazur. “Either outcome is detrimental to long-term business success, and as our Emerging Workforce Study found, both businesses and workers are taking a dangerous risk by ignoring these skills development disconnects.”

An encouraging sign is that employers and employees appear to be on the same page regarding the main skills that will be required for future success, including problem solving, strategic thinking and the ability to understand and interpret data.

“Closing the skills gap is the responsibility of both employers and employees, and better communication can help eliminate some of the disconnects that have prevented progress,” Mazur said. “Through more frequent and open dialogue, both parties can identify which types of training and development programs are the best match for individual needs and examine how workers can enjoy continuous growth at their company.”

The survey was conducted online by Research Now among 416 US human resource managers and 2,810 employed US adults.