Upskilling & Reskilling Employees

When discussed in the context of an organization's learning and development strategy, upskilling and reskilling refer to the educational opportunities offered by a business to its employees.

While the two words are often used interchangeably, there is a significant difference in their definitions.

- To upskill is to provide training that enhances an employee’s existing skill set, allowing them to grow in their current role and bring added value to an organization.

- To reskill is essentially to retrain an employee for a new position. This process is commonly used when an employee’s post has become redundant and the employer looks to retain the worker by training them in a new discipline.

Although mainly associated with advancements in technology, upskilling and reskilling are also vital for the continued development of valuable soft skills.