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While Upskilling allows professionals to grow deeper into their roles, reskilling focuses on training employees for new professional challenges.
Upskilling and reskilling are non-negotiable tools for organizations and professionals. While equally valuable, upskilling and reskilling are different processes of nurturing employee abilities.
With the growing demand for new skills, the rise of digital technologies, and the expansion of professional roles, organizations need to learn how to upskill their workforce to meet these demands accordingly.
Implementing an upskilling or reskilling program isn’t enough—it’s crucial for organizations to also verify and acknowledge these efforts. Micro-credentials for completed programs can make this seamless, ensuring a clear verifiable record of the skills employees acquired. For employees, this recognition boosts motivation and career growth, while allowing businesses to build a qualified, adaptable workforce.
Let’s explore the key difference between upskilling and reskilling, the benefits of implementing these programs, and practical tips to help your organization create a successful program. If you would like to learn about upskilling and reskilling examples, you can visit our blog post.
What is Upskilling?
Upskilling is the practice of building up new skills in employees or improving their current skills. The goal is for employees to acquire the needed abilities to stay competitive in the job market and excel at their current roles. You may read our blog about digital upskilling to learn more about digital skills and how to improve them.
For example, corporate trainers who lack technological expertise might upskill by learning new management systems or virtual reality platforms to enhance class engagement and personalize learner experience. This not only makes them more effective in their role but also positions them as an established professional in the field.
Upskilling doesn’t help build random or general skills. It focuses on building specific expertise and knowledge in professionals, allowing them to grow within their roles and advance their careers. It’s a great tool for both professionals who want to take on more responsibilities and organizations that want to support the professional growth of employees and fill any skill gaps.
Some ways to upskill professionals include:
- Online courses, workshops, and webinars–they’re flexible, accessible, and self-paced, and often come with digital certifications for one’s efforts.
- Peer coaching or mentoring–for those seeking a more personalized approach with real-time feedback and one-on-one interactions.
- Conferences, events, and associations–-attending relevant events or using industry resources is great for upskilling and also networking with recognized experts.
What is Reskilling?
Unlike upskilling, which builds up skills related to a particular role, reskilling is the process of acquiring entirely new skills for a role. The goal of reskilling is to help professionals transition into a different career path or acquire new abilities based on the changing industry requirements.
For instance, a marketing executive might want to transition into data analytics due to the increasing demand for data-driven decision-making professionals. By attending a reskilling program that includes training in statistical analysis and data visualization, they can gain the expertise needed to thrive in the new role.
Moreover, organizations whose goals have changed over time might initiate reskilling to help employees cope with the new demands.
Reskilling is often implemented in professional development plans to equip employees who seek new careers with the needed skills for that role. Some of the most common types of reskilling include:
- Certifiable skill development programs—validate learned skills and one’s preparedness for the new role.
- Cross-training—for employees who still perform at their current role and simultaneously expand their skills for a new position.
- Job shadowing—the process of observing and learning from a professional in the desired role or career.
- Rotation training—internal programs aimed at those who prefer firsthand learning across different teams over an extended period.
Here’s a quick overview of the main differences between upskilling and reskilling.
| ASPECT | UPSKILLING | RESKILLING |
| Focus | Enhances current skills | Acquires entirely new skills |
| Goal | Advance in the same career path | Transition or adapt to a new career |
| Purpose | Stay competitive in a current role | Prepare for a role change or new demand |
| Example | Trainer learned new AI tools | Marketer trains in data analytics |
Top Upskilling and Reskilling Benefits
With the ever-changing business landscape, the demands for certain roles have evolved. This made reskilling and upskilling vital for professionals and organizations that want to keep up with the industry trends and standards. Let’s go over some of the key benefits upskilling and reskilling deliver for both professionals and businesses.
Upskilling and reskilling benefits for organizations
- Elevated productivity. By investing in building employee skills, organizations can increase their productivity and performance, leading to better outputs, higher motivation, and a more agile workforce.
- Employee retention. Upskilling and reskilling allow organizations to offer growth opportunities to leading talent, ensuring higher job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and greater retention.
- Reduced expenses. Upskilling and reskilling help organizations save up to 20% on new hires and onboarding. It also reduces costs related to letting off employees by retraining them for new, relevant roles.
- Higher flexibility. Through tailored reskilling or upskilling, companies can ensure personalized and flexible programs for each learner. This approach also ensures organizations are adaptable to rapid market changes and can meet its growing demands.
- Improved market positioning. Companies implementing reskilling and upskilling gain a competitive edge by building a team of trained professionals who can ensure better service, higher innovation, and more sustainable business outcomes.
Upskilling and reskilling benefits for employees
- Higher employability. Adequately skilled professionals are extremely valuable in a fast-changing job market. Through reskilling and upskilling programs, employees can expand their career trajectories and attract employers seeking well-rounded professionals.
- Improved morale and job performance. 68% of professionals are happy to undergo retraining at the workplace. Gaining new skills or expanding current ones ensures employees are satisfied with their professional growth. In turn, this boosts their morale and ensures they can adapt to challenges and perform at the highest level.
- Bigger career flexibility. Through targeted upskilling and reskilling, professionals can switch between careers, operate across multiple roles, and leverage this flexibility to ensure professional growth and resilience in new responsibilities.
- Professional recognition. Upskilling and reskilling programs offering verifiable digital certifications help employees get recognition for their learned skills and demonstrate their commitment to continuous growth.
- Improved job satisfaction. Employees who are allowed to grow their skills within an organization are more satisfied with their jobs. In turn, they are likelier to stay at their current company and contribute to their role with hands-on knowledge.
How to Create an Effective Upskilling and Reskilling Plan
Implementing a successful upskilling and reskilling program requires developing a targeted plan that aligns the needs of employees versus the organizations. Here are the key steps to take to create an effective reskilling or upskilling plan.
Assess company objectives and needs
First things first, companies need to evaluate their short-term and long-term objectives and the skills that will be needed to meet them. Prioritizing key skills based on existing needs is essential for ensuring continuous growth and setting up professionals for future success in any role, old or new. Thinking in advance is also critical. Objectives change over time so companies need to upskill and reskill staff for today, and the future, to meet the market’s growing demands.
Assess current employee skills and gaps
After determining the needs for particular skills, organizations need to align them with the skills employees need and have. This requires assessing existing skills in employees and detecting any gaps that could be filled with reskilling or upskilling. Documenting these findings is crucial for monitoring and improving your efforts and determining which employees can easily transition into new roles or expand their current abilities.
Adapt to different learning needs and preferences
Creating a successful upskilling and reskilling program has to meet different learning styles and needs. Businesses should develop tailored programs for different learners, like in-person workshops, mentorship, or virtual courses, to ensure everyone can master skills with flexible learning. Keeping deadlines in mind is also relevant—shorter programs are great if companies need to develop skills fast, whereas longer programs are more suited for ongoing development.
Recognize employee efforts
Regardless of the upskilling and reskilling program at hand, organizations need to be able to recognize employees’ efforts. Credentials like digital badges and certificates are a great way to complete the program with tangible evidence. Verified certifications allow employees to showcase their capabilities and expand their career portfolios, whereas organizations can easily demonstrate the quality and expertise of their professionals.
Monitor, adjust, and update program
Reviewing and tracking upskilling and reskilling programs is pivotal for continuous growth. By asking for feedback from learners and stakeholders, organizations can monitor program success and tailor it in case of any learning gaps. What’s more, after implementing the program, organizations can keep it up to date by adjusting it to the latest market requirements, organizational goals, and employee needs.
The Future Landscape of Upskilling and Reskilling
The business landscape is changing faster than ever, with new training tools, professional roles, and skill requirements expanding daily. As companies grow, upskilling and reskilling become crucial for meeting future demands, standing out among competitors, and retaining top talent. Let’s go over some of the learning trends that will shape the future of upskilling and reskilling employees.
The power of AI
No doubt about it—AI plays a crucial role in training employees for success, and it will continue to do so. One leading advantage AI delivers in upskilling and reskilling is the ability to help predict and identify skill gaps. By mapping top skills in real-time and offering predictive analysis, companies can identify vital skill gaps and fill them before they impact the organization.
Another perk is that AI facilitates personalized learning. AI-based upskilling and reskilling solutions can develop tailored training trajectories to meet everyone’s needs. AI algorithms analyze employee outputs and performance and can develop personalized content to optimize program success and effectiveness.
The ease of automation
Hand in hand with AI, automation can also improve the reskilling and upskilling process, giving organizations the upper hand on the market. For one, automated learning through chatbots and virtual assistants is already in play and will continue to rise, ensuring guidance and providing answers throughout the upskilling or reskilling process. This also frees managers from admin time, making the process swift, successful, and time-efficient.
Automated certification management is another forte to look forward to. As teams become busier, managing upskilling and reskilling certifications can be a challenge, costing time and resources. Automated solutions make this easier, enabling timely, accurate, secure, and seamless tracking and issuing of digital certifications for each learner.
Not to forget, AI+automation solutions can also contribute to more targeted learning through advanced realistic simulations where employees can practice and hone their skills in a risk-free environment.
New-age learning and technology
The future of upskilling and reskilling programs lies in introducing new ways of learning. Microlearning is one popular approach, where learners can enhance their skills through bite-sized content that is quick to remember and easy to complete.
Then, there’s immersive learning, using technology like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)— a true revolution for mastering skills fast. Immersive learning allows employees to hone skills virtually via real-life scenarios, ensuring practical experience in a controlled setting.
Finally, gamification will mark the future of upskilling and reskilling. It’s a popular trend in corporate training, based on interactive learning with rewards, leaderboards, and challenges that ensure greater engagement and dynamic skill adoption.
Upskilling and Reskilling Employees—Eyes on the Future
Nearly half of today’s professional skills will change in five years, requiring employees to undergo new training by 2027. This makes upskilling and reskilling more crucial than ever. By embracing skill development, businesses and employees can thrive together in a future defined by continuous learning and improvement.
For businesses, these programs ensure teams remain competitive, drive innovation and adapt to market changes, while ensuring talent retention and satisfaction. For employees, they offer career growth, improved performance, and a well-rounded skillset with valuable recognition.
Digital certifications for upskilling and reskilling are more than just ‘a job well done.’ They ensure tangible proof of expertise that helps employees grow professionally while allowing organizations to showcase their skilled workforce.
Sertifier streamlines upskilling and reskilling certifications with automated creation, distribution, and verification of digital certificates and badges. With our advanced solution, businesses can efficiently track employee training progress, reduce overheads, and ensure verifiable proof of skills. Recognize and validate the growth of your teams the easy way—start with Sertifier today for free!
