What are the biggest barriers to upskilling?
November 16, 2024
A majority of workers and employers alike are aware of the importance of upskilling, according to a recent report.
Overall, 60 per cent of Canadians believe upskilling is very important for advancing their careers.
“Upskilling is no longer a choice, but a necessity for career progression with the rise of new technologies like AI and our current competitive job market,” says Sarah Stockdale, founder and CEO of Growclass, which did the survey.
This is becoming more important as a previous report from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) found that university graduates seem to be getting a lower return on investment post-graduation. That’s because the rising cost of tuition in Canada has outpaced median income growth for post-secondary graduates five years after they completed an undergraduate university degree.
What is the best skill to develop?
Canadians feel communication and interpersonal skills are the most important areas to upskill in the next 12 months (60 per cent), according to the survey of over 1,550 respondents who are members of the Angus Reid Forum, conducted by Growclass Oct. 8 to 10, 2024.
Leadership and management (48 per cent) and artificial intelligence (37 per cent) are also high on the priorities list of Canadians.
And 40 per cent have engaged in some form of upskilling in the past year. Among them, 44 per cent say they were motivated by personal interest or growth, and 20 per cent desire for career advancement.
The concept of life-long learning – with a focus on “skills for success” – is vital in ensuring that Canada will have enough skilled workers to fill job openings in the future, according to one expert.
Source: Read the full article here
