A Deep Dive into Upskilling and Reskilling

Technological advancements and shifting market demands have generated a distinct need for employees and organizations to invest in consistent upskilling and reskilling.

What does the state of upskilling and reskilling look like today?

TalentLMS and Workable’s research shows that 71% of employees seek more frequent upskilling opportunities, while 80% would like their companies to invest more in employee upskilling and reskilling.

Employees want to stay up to date with new skills to remain competitive and adaptable.

Employee Motivators for Upskilling and Reskilling

Personal growth and development are the top motivators.

Employees have a fond desire for self-improvement and a need to meet job requirements that help them stay ahead of industry changes.

But not all age groups are satisfied with the leadership’s investment. Gen Z feels leadership doesn’t understand their skill development needs, with 29% training outside work hours. Satisfaction with upskilling and reskilling boosts with age. It peaks at 77% for employees over 54. However, it drops to 54% among Gen Zs.

How does upskilling and reskilling benefit people and organizations? For employees, the benefits translate to job security and satisfaction. A notable 64% of employees feel more secure in their jobs as training has positively impacted their job stability. Plus, 77% of employees feel more purpose and satisfaction while learning new skills.

Sixty-five percent of employees credit upskilling and reskilling for helping them adapt to new technologies. When companies provide employees with the skills they need to leverage emerging technologies, they ensure their teams stay agile and able to drive innovation.

Common Pitfalls and Challenges

Limited time between training and work responsibilities leads to poor diversity of training programs. In fact, 2 out of 10 employees are dissatisfied with the variety of skills being offered in training.

Plus, they remarked that training programs aren’t frequently updated to include new industry skills.

Technology in Upskilling and Reskilling Initiatives

AI and other digital tools have indeed made learning more accessible and efficient.

As the research suggests, 39% of employees use AI skills in their jobs. And 50% of individuals claim that AI can benefit their careers. So, organizations must adopt more eLearning platforms and other digital training tools to support their continuous learning initiatives.

Embracing Upskilling and Reskilling for Future Success

Understanding the motivations and addressing employees’ challenges is the first step to developing effective training programs.

Continuous learning isn’t just a benefit. It’s necessary to stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving job market.

Are employees experiencing challenges or barriers while participating in upskilling or reskilling programs?

How satisfied are employees with the variety of offered skills?

Christina Gialleli is director of people and culture at Epignosis, a leading global software house in learning tech that is trusted by more than 22 million people in more than 160 countries worldwide.

Did You Know: Thirty-nine percent of employees use AI skills in their role, while half of those surveyed say AI would benefit their job.