Why Upskilling Employees Is So Important Right Now

Employers have long seen the importance of offering employee upskilling opportunities. During the Industrial Revolution, apprentice programs offered hands-on training for future teachers and farmers alike. Upskilling programs have certainly changed in scope and delivery method since those days, but their purpose has stayed the same: to arm workers with the skills needed to succeed at their jobs while also supporting the needs of their workplace.

Indeed, the number of companies offering upskilling programs to employees has grown even in just the past few years. A 2022 SHRM survey on employee benefits found that 78 percent of employers cover opportunities to develop new skills, up from 75 percent in 2021. If your organization is not actively developing its workforce or needs to update its strategy, it’s not too late to get started.

Let’s explore the benefits of upskilling and why it’s so important right now. 

What is employee upskilling?

Upskilling employees happens when organizations invest in their employees’ futures by offering them training or educational opportunities that enable them to build their knowledge and skills. In doing this, organizations build a future-ready workforce that’s capable of responding to the fast-changing world of work. 

Why is upskilling important?

There are many benefits of upskilling and reskilling: both can help with recruiting and retaining employees, making employees feel more engaged, and allowing employers to be more responsive to the changing demands of work. Among business leaders, the most common, primary motivations for offering a program are to build the workforce skills needed for the future (51%), improve employee retention (50%), develop high-potential talent (47%), and increase talent attraction/hiring (43%).

With the way the world of work is changing—and changing fast—the need to offer these programs is only growing. Advancements in technology have disrupted the ways we work, from the growth of remote work to the rise of automation. Some jobs and skills have been rendered obsolete as companies have harnessed technology to get work done more efficiently. Other roles have had to adapt to new ways of working.

Telemedicine is a good example. Short of a home visit, the idea of seeing a doctor or therapist from your living room couch might have seemed impossible a couple of decades ago. Today, however, it’s an increasingly common and convenient way for healthcare providers to connect with patients.

These rapid developments can be exciting to witness, but they can also make people feel uneasy about their place in the future of work. Many employees will wonder if they have the skills needed to be successful in the next 5, 10, or 20 years. In fact, according to the 2024 SEI Consumer Survey, 50% of U.S.-based full-time employees are concerned about gaining the skills they need to advance at their current job in the future.

This indicates that it’s imperative for employers to help assuage these concerns by helping employees identify and build the skills of the future.  

How can training motivate employees?

If you want to show your employees you care about their development, consider offering them training opportunities. These can be a great motivator, especially for employees who feel underutilized at work.

According to one survey, 93% of employees say learning new skills keeps them motivated at work. It makes sense—think about the last time you tackled a tough work challenge and the satisfaction you felt when you finally worked it out. People who feel their skills are being developed and put to good use can feel this same sense of satisfaction when they come to work every day knowing they’re being appropriately challenged to take on new challenges—and expanding their knowledge in the process. 

How are you upskilling employees and supporting them in their careers?

Giving employees the tools to grow their skills directly supports their career trajectories. By adopting an upskilling strategy, you’re showing a commitment to helping employees grow. It’s a way of saying you care about their skills not just today but also how they can grow in the future. 

Some upskilling examples that employers may offer include tuition assistance or education benefits, in-house trainings, mentorship programs, or even funds that can be put toward things like conferences or books. There are different benefits to each of these upskilling methods, and some may work better for certain employees than others.

One thing that’s universal, though, no matter what upskilling methods you choose, your organization and your employees will be better off for them. 

Want to learn more about launching an upskilling program of your own? Let’s talk.