Upskilling is the process of enhancing skills we already possess or acquiring the new skills that are needed for the modern world of work. Think back to your grandparent’s time and what the typical jobs were, what were the skills that were needed? what was the technology of the time? Things have certainly changed a lot since then and they will continue to change at an even faster pace into the future.

Even if we take a job that we might feel has not changed much, such as Teaching for example, we can see that so much about the job has changed and in a relatively short period of time. Chalk was changed to whiteboard markers which have now given way to text on a screen. Teachers class notes have migrated from folders to floppy disks to CDRoms to pen drives to now being stored in the Cloud.

Projectors gave way to video tapes to DVD’s and now on to online video and YouTube. Roll calls are now done using a computer programme, virtual classrooms are commonplace, new subjects have been introduced such as Coding and Computer Science. All of this has meant that teachers and the profession have had to adapt, or upskill, in order to keep up with the changes that have been brought about through technology. This is just one example of how advancements in technology can impact a career that many might classify as being ‘not that technological’ and this can be replicated across most career areas.

There is also a growing need for upskilling or re-training due to the automation of jobs that were once carried out by employees but that can now be performed by the consumer on their own. Think of personal banking, supermarket checkouts, booking a holiday, checking in at an airport, even getting the grass cut. All of these roles can now be performed without the need for a person present. This trend will continue as the related technologies continue to evolve.

Many industries and companies are faced with tackling these challenges. Take the logistics industry for example. Truck and delivery drivers are among the most common jobs in economies worldwide with the movement of goods and materials essential to what they do. However, as self-driving vehicles and drone technology capabilities develop and improve, many of these most common of jobs can and will be replaced in the near future.

In effect, a decent general rule of thumb is that any job that can be automated, will be automated in the future. Therefore, it is essential that industries, companies, employers and individuals maintain a focus on adapting and upskilling in order to succeed into the future. For individuals who may have lost jobs, or those who are looking to re-train or enter the labour market, there are a great deal of options and opportunities available to learn new skills that are relevant to today’s (and tomorrow’s!) world of work.

Universities and colleges are constantly tailoring their existing courses and adding new options to their lists of offerings in order to meet these evolving needs. Learners can also now avail of the many online, distance and blended learning options on a part-time or full-time basis. The government have also recognised the huge importance and need for upskilling and have taken steps to address the issue. Schemes such as Springboard and the Human Capital Initiative offer free and heavily subsidised courses at certificate, degree and masters level in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy.

For much more information in relation to the wide range of opportunities in relation to how you can upskill and where, visit our dedicated Upskilling section.