Remember the days when you just got up and went to work? You did the job you were hired for and returned the next day to do the process all over again. If that scenario seems a little unfamiliar, you’re not alone. Even before the pandemic tipped the work world on its side, there were hints that times were changing. You may be one of the many who saw their job morph with little warning. Workloads increased and it was easy to feel like you were taking on the work of a dozen roles.
Initiative-taking Learning
Workers who are looking to create a safety net are starting to take matters into their own hands, exploring the idea of upskilling. But upskilling is something people have been doing for years – learning new skills to do an entirely different job. These days, upskilling is making the transition from buzzword to reality as U.S. workers look for ways to prepare for the future of work.
Skills to Hone
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Project Management
Returning to Class
A Yahoo! Finance article found the Gen Z workforce is looking to build their skills (upskill) online (59%) and in the physical classroom (36%). Being back in a physical classroom may also be an effective way for Gen Z employees to boost their network while upskilling.
The desire to return to a physical classroom is at higher percentage for Gen Z than for Gen X and Baby Boomers, according to LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence Survey. This makes sense as this demographic is in the preliminary stages of their career path and embraces the familiarity of the physical classroom. But upskilling through online classes is still a popular decision for Millennials (65%), Gen X (60%) and Baby Boomers (53%).
“A combination of online and face-to-face instruction is often the best recipe,” said Dan Brodnitz, Global Head of Content Strategy, LinkedIn Learning. “This combines the ability to learn at your own pace online with the ability to put complex concepts into practice alongside classmates.”
Skill Based Hiring
Brodnitz also sees younger employees as having the most to gain. Skill-based hiring has the potential to increase the pool of Gen Z workers by more than 10.3 times more than any other age demographic, according to LinkedIn.
