Upskilling is the process of learning new skills or improving existing ones to perform better in your current job or prepare for greater responsibilities.
It can involve learning new technology, developing leadership skills, earning certifications, or gaining hands-on experience.
For employers, upskilling helps address skills gaps without relying entirely on new hires. For employees, it creates opportunities for professional growth and helps them remain competitive in a changing job market.
With artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and new workplace technologies changing how businesses operate, upskilling has become an increasingly important part of workforce development.
What Is the Difference Between Upskilling and Reskilling?
Although the terms are often used together, upskilling and reskilling serve different purposes.
| Upskilling | Reskilling | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Improving or expanding skills within an existing career path | Learning different skills to move into a new position or career |
| Builds on | The experience an employee already has | Transferable strengths, applied to new work |
| Example | An administrative assistant learns advanced Excel functions or AI-powered scheduling tools | A customer service representative completes training to move into an accounting role |
Both approaches help employees adapt, but upskilling builds on the experience they already have.
Why is upskilling important in 2026?
Workplace expectations are changing, and employees increasingly need a combination of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025:
39%
of workers’ existing skills are expected to change or become outdated between 2025 and 2030
85%
of surveyed employers plan to prioritize upskilling their workforce
For businesses, investing in employee development can help:
- Close skills gaps and improve productivity
- Reduce the need for external hiring
- Prepare existing employees for promotions
- Improve employee engagement and retention
- Adapt to new technology and business processes
Employees can also benefit from stronger qualifications, increased confidence, and more career opportunities.
Examples of upskilling in the workplace
Upskilling doesn’t always require an expensive certification or a lengthy training program. Sometimes, learning one new tool or taking on a supported project can make a meaningful difference.
Administrative professionals
Advanced Microsoft Excel, project management software, or AI-assisted office tools
Accounting and finance
Financial reporting, data analysis, or accounting software skills
Customer service
Conflict resolution, communication, or customer relationship management (CRM) skills
Human resources
Applicant tracking systems, payroll software, or updated employment compliance procedures
Medical office professionals
Electronic health records (EHR), medical billing, or patient scheduling skills
Managers
Leadership, delegation, coaching, and performance management skills
The most useful skills depend on an employee’s current responsibilities and career goals.
5 effective ways to upskill employees
There is no single approach that works for every organization. Employers should identify what their teams need and choose training methods that support those goals.
Create learning and development opportunities
Start by identifying skills gaps within your organization. Review employee responsibilities, upcoming business needs, and areas where additional training could improve performance.
From there, consider online courses, workshops, industry certifications, or employer-sponsored training.
Example: An accounting department transitioning to new financial software could offer structured training before introducing the system company-wide.
Encourage job rotation
Job rotation allows employees to spend time working in different departments or related positions.
This experience helps employees develop broader skills and understand how different parts of an organization work together.
Example: An administrative employee might temporarily assist the HR department to learn onboarding procedures, while a marketing professional could work alongside the sales team to better understand customer needs.
Introduce peer coaching and mentorship
Employees can learn valuable skills from colleagues who already have experience in a particular area.
Peer coaching encourages employees to share knowledge, solve problems, and develop skills together. Mentorship typically involves an experienced professional providing guidance to someone with less experience.
Both approaches can support professional growth without requiring extensive outside training.
Expand responsibilities through job enlargement
Job enlargement involves adding different responsibilities to an employee’s existing position. These opportunities should include appropriate training, support, and manageable workloads. Simply assigning more work without development opportunities isn’t effective upskilling.
Example: A customer service representative who primarily handles phone inquiries might learn how to manage live chat support or prepare customer service reports.
Bring in specialists to share knowledge
Sometimes, an organization needs expertise that its existing team doesn’t have. Hiring a specialist, consultant, or experienced professional can help address an immediate need while creating opportunities for employees to learn.
The goal is to transfer useful knowledge to the existing team rather than depend indefinitely on outside support.
Example: A business implementing new software might bring in an experienced specialist to oversee the transition and train employees on the system.
How can employees start upskilling?
You don’t need to wait for your employer to introduce a formal training program.
How City Personnel can help you grow your career or workforce
At City Personnel, we understand how important it is for businesses to find professionals with the right skills and for job seekers to continue developing their careers.
As a staffing and recruiting agency serving Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, we work with employers across administrative, accounting, customer service, human resources, legal, and other professional fields. For employers, upskilling existing employees is one part of building a strong workforce. For job seekers, gaining new skills can open doors to different responsibilities and career opportunities.
Whether you're building your team or looking for your next opportunity, City Personnel can help you take the next step.
For employers: When additional expertise is needed, we identify qualified candidates through temporary, temp-to-perm, and direct-hire staffing.
For job seekers: Our recruiters get to know your experience, qualifications, and goals to match you with your next opportunity.
Frequently asked questions about upskilling
It depends on the role. AI literacy, digital tools, data analysis, communication, problem-solving, and leadership are useful development areas across many professions. Employees should prioritize skills relevant to their work and career goals.
No. Upskilling can happen through online learning, mentorship, job shadowing, workplace training, or hands-on experience. Formal certifications may be useful for certain positions, but they're not always necessary.
