The main difference between reskilling and upskilling is that reskilling refers to an employee learning a new set of skills in order to perform a different job, while upskilling refers to an employee learning additional skills to be better equipped to do his/her job.
In brief, reskilling and upskilling can enable companies to develop the skills needed to remain competitive. Both help to bridge a skill or talent gap in the company; however, there is a distinct difference between reskilling and upskilling. These strategies can help a company in employee retention, boosting employee morale, and create a sense of belonging among employees. They can also increase productivity in the workplace.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Reskilling
– Definition, Features
2. What is Upskilling
– Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Reskilling and Upskilling
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Reskilling, Upskilling
What is Reskilling
Reskilling refers to learning new skills so that you do a different job. In a business context, reskilling can also mean teaching an employee a new skill set. Employers may show an interest in reskilling an employee when they no longer need an employee’s skill set anymore or the position he/she occupies becomes obsolete but are keen in retaining that employee. In such cases, they may move that employee to another area altogether, and he or she will need a different skill set for their new role. The employee will, of course, have to learn new skills to perform well in this new role.
For example, a company may no longer need an office clerk, but that employee’s experience and knowledge about the company will make him a valuable asset, and he or she can be moved to an in-demand position once he/she learns a new skill set.
What is Upskilling
Upskilling refers to an employee learning additional skills to be better equipped to do their job. For example, an experienced marketing executive in a company may need to learn digital marketing skills to adapt to the changes in the marketing industry. In this instance, the employee already has a strong foundation and basic knowledge and just needs to learn few more skills to do his/her job better. In other words, upskilling helps to close the talent gap in the company.
Generally, in upskilling, employees only improve their current performance in the same role. There is no change in the position or career path. Upskilling may involve training programs, mentoring, microlearning, etc. Through upskilling, companies don’t have to spend money or time to hire new employees; they only need to improve the talents of the existing employees.
Difference Between Reskilling and Upskilling
Definition
Reskilling refers to an employee learning a new set of skills in order to perform a different job, while upskilling refers to an employee learning additional skills to be better equipped to do his/her job.
Skills
In reskilling, employees learn a new set of skills, which is not related to their current position, whereas, in upskilling, employees improve their existing skills and learn skills related to their current position.
Career Change
Reskilling involves a change in career, whereas upskilling does not usually involve a change in career.
Conclusion
Reskilling refers to an employee learning a new set of skills in order to perform a different job, while upskilling refers to an employee learning additional skills to be better equipped to do his/her job. Thus, this is the main difference between reskilling and upskilling. Both these strategies help companies to develop the skills needed to remain competitive in the industry.
