This informal CPD article Retraining is no longer optional was provided by Alison, Free Online Learning Provider. “For workers to remain in their roles over the next five years, nearly half will need retraining for their core skills.” This is a direct quote from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, which was published in 2020 and which looks at the changing nature of work. As these numbers show, advances in technology mean that jobs are evolving faster than ever before.
One in two employees will need to retrain in order to be able to effectively carry out their job. This means that upskilling is now essential for both individuals and businesses to thrive, and not just something that employees do to increase their earning potential or to upgrade their CV.
If 50% of employees don't upskill in the next five years, then that means that half of the world's work won't get done. This is as big a problem for employers as it is for employees. So are employers taking this issue as seriously as they should be? Are they assuming the responsibility for upskilling their workforce? As an employee, it's important that you make sure your company isn't going to be left behind by the upskilling revolution of the next five years.
Don't Wait for Your Employers to Implement Retraining
You know better than anyone how well or ill-equipped you are to carry out your work. If you find that requirements are changing, or that new systems are being implemented in your field that you're unfamiliar with, then you should be the one to raise this with management. If you feel that the work landscape is changing around you then it's vital you raise the alarm and stay ahead of the curve. If you feel like you need retraining in order to carry out your job effectively, then be a driving force behind mandatory upskilling at your place of work.
Decentralised Upskilling Means Varying Quality
As the nature of many jobs changes, more and more employees are going to need to upskill to stay competent. If the required training isn't being offered within the workplace then those employees will naturally seek it outside the workplace. Without centralised upskilling, the result could potentially be very uneven. Some employees, perhaps limited by price, may end up upskilling through inferior platforms, which will negatively impact the business.
Mandatory Upskilling Means Everyone is on the Same Page
To make sure that employees don't upskill unevenly, and start implementing a variety of different (potentially even conflicting) systems to carry out their changing jobs, it's essential that businesses oversee a unified coherent upskilling programme. By organising a workplace retraining programme themselves, they will ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there is no divergence from best company practice. By doing this sooner rather than later, businesses can also save their employees from unnecessary upskilling, as there's no point in retraining one way if the business wants to go about it another.
Upskilling is a Pressing Concern!
The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report looked at the changes in work over the next few years and was published in 2020. The jobs mentioned in the report are already changing and many will have already altered beyond recognition. As ever, the companies with the best staff will be the most competitive. If, as a business, you had the best employees last year, the chances are half of them are now underskilled for the work they need to carry out unless you've successfully implemented a retraining programme. If you're an employee who hasn't upskilled personally, then there's a one in two chance you're already falling behind your peers!
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Alison, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively please visit the CPD Industry Hubs for more CPD articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
