Market circumstances, technological advancements, and organizational needs constantly change. People need to evolve with these changes to keep growing and grab any lucrative opportunities. Without upskilling and reskilling, you will be stuck and unable to adapt to the changes around you. Let’s discuss why upskilling and reskilling has become a necessity in today’s world for professionals.
What is Upskilling and Reskilling?
While often used interchangeably, upskilling and reskilling refer to two different things.
Upskilling focuses on enhancing existing abilities and learning new skills. It can improve the existing role for instance an IT tech gains a certification for a new software. A culture of upskilling allows professionals to develop advanced skills to overcome talent gaps. Gamification platforms allow employees to upskill while making it fun and engaging.
Reskilling involves acquiring new skills to transition into a new role. This approach is for individuals with adjacent skills that are skills related to the new skills required in the workplace. It applies to roles that may no longer be useful for a company for instance, AI and automation will reduce the demand for assembly line workers. However, they can be reskilled to transform their role into maintenance technicians or robot operators allowing them to gain knowledge about maintaining the automated systems.
Benefits of Upskilling
The last thing employees want to feel is being stuck in a dead-end role. A lack of career growth can lead employees to resign and look for more challenging opportunities. Upskilling allows workers to keep on improving through new learning opportunities in their existing role. It also boosts the morale of the employees allowing them to have newer responsibilities in a specialized role. As a result productivity and job satisfaction increases, plus the improved skill set results in better outcomes.
Benefits of Reskilling
It is estimated that around 50% of all employees will need reskilling by 2025, mainly due to technological advancements. Around 1.1 billion jobs will be transformed in the next decade which can lead to a disparity between the knowledge people have and the skill demands for the opportunities. Professionals may no longer be able to transition into roles that their organizations need to function. A redundant and irrelevant role becomes an unnecessary expense. As their role loses meaning, they will get discouraged. That’s where reskilling will come in handy to allow employees to explore a new territory and avail job opportunities according to the times.
Why is Upskilling and Reskilling Necessary?
1. Adapting to Technological Advancements
Due to constant advancements in technology, upskilling and reskilling have become inevitable. Acquiring knowledge of newer tools in the market helps to stay relevant and keep pace with the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
2. Staying Competitive
Be it the job market or competitors in the marketplace, upskilling and reskilling gives a competitive edge. When it comes to jobs, employers value employees who are up-to-date and willing to learn new skills. It will also help stay ahead of competitors in their fields as more individuals are now updating their skill sets to remain competitive in the job market.
3. Driving Innovation
Upskilling and reskilling foster creativity, business success, and innovation. As skills and knowledge are enhanced, the workforce can develop creative solutions to complex problems. This allows them to contribute towards the growth and competitiveness of the organization.
4. Future-Proofing Careers
As automation is slated to replace many job roles, individuals who will not enhance their skill set risk being left behind. Individuals can future-proof their careers by learning high-demand skills that are not as susceptible to automation thereby, reducing the risk of job displacement.
5. Adaptability
It is imperative to adapt to changes in this economy quickly. Improving your skill set can help in gaining the proficiency and aptitude required to navigate the market successfully. Humans tend to adapt to changes quickly but it requires intentional effort to do so which in today’s world is a necessity.
Employers can also choose to train their employees through training and workshops. TechClass offers multiple training on AI, Cybersecurity, and Digital Marketing to keep people updated on the newest information in various industries. As technological innovations happen rapidly, there is a constant need to upskill and reskill to flow along the tide and sustain the waves.