Upskilling

What is upskilling?

Upskilling is when employees learn new skills that are directly related to their existing skill set. This can allow an employee to advance their career path while increasing their proficiency in their role. Upskilling programs can be created around any proficiency, from soft skills like public speaking to digital skills like coding, as long as they are relevant to the employee’s current role. 

Example: The department’s upskilling initiative for writers allowed them to hone their technical skills via an SEO writing course. 

Upskilling should not be confused with reskilling, a related but separate strategy where employees advance skills that are outside of the typical scope of their role.

What are the benefits of upskilling training programs?

Workplace learning programs can offer dramatic benefits for both employers and employees. Through upskilling programs, employees have the opportunity to close skill gaps and improve their proficiency in relevant tasks. This can facilitate career growth and job security for workers while also making them feel valued by their employer.

For employers, investing in employees’ development can improve employee retention rates, boost employee engagement, offset hiring costs, and improve company culture overall. The skills gap of an entire team can be reduced with effective training sessions. 

Best practices for a successful upskilling program

To build a successful upskilling program, identify skills gaps on specific teams. Work with managers to pinpoint the more advanced skills that would help their teams succeed, then find opportunities to facilitate that growth. Consider mentorship programs where newer employees are paired with longtime employees and can tap into their expertise. 

Finally, don’t forget about soft skills. Offer opportunities for upskilling around communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills to build better managers and create more collaborative, successful teams.