Author Dr. Jeffery Rhymes explores a systems thinking approach and blueprint to addressing burnout and skills gaps, with insights from the 2025 Career Optimism Index®

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “Designing Workforce Resilience: A Systems Thinking Blueprint for Closing the Skills Gap and Preventing Burnout,” by Jeffery Rhymes, DM, MBA, and fellow with the University’s Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement, and Belonging (CO-WEB). In the paper, Rhymes presents a systems thinking approach and blueprint for creating adaptive, employee-centered strategies for countering burnout and widening skills gaps, contextualized within findings from 2025 Career Optimism Index® study.

“Talent challenges such as burnout, disengagement, and skills shortages arise from workplace system breakdowns rather than isolated policy gaps,” Rhymes shares. “To achieve true resilience, organizations must redesign how talent flows throughout the employee lifecycle. Adopting a systems thinking mindset can help leaders build the structural strength their workforce needs to thrive.”

Data from the 2025 Career Optimism Index highlights a systemic misalignment between employees and employers: 43% of workers lack access to skill development, 60% of employers prioritize external hiring, and 51% of employees experience burnout. The white paper explores this misalignment, its contributions to talent stagnation and burnout, and the opportunities for leadership action.

The white paper further describes five critical actions grounded in systems thinking that company leaders can take: auditing human capital systems, establishing feedback loops, focusing on internal talent mobility, aligning metrics with strategy, and implementing training that emphasizes leading adaptively.

Rhymes serves as doctoral faculty at the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies. As an organization and technology operational readiness leader with over 20 years of consulting experience, he specializes in enhancing employee experiences, leading high-performing teams, driving strategic talent management initiatives and making complex concepts accessible through clear and engaging communication. Rhymes earned his Doctorate in Management and MBA from University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s in computer science from Southern University and A&M College.

The full white paper is available on the University of Phoenix Career Institute® webpage or as a direct link here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

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