Before you apply for a job, you might spend hours learning a particular set of skills to thrive in that industry and role. Then you land your dream job \u2014 that’s great! \u2014 but learning and expanding your skill set isn’t over. In order not only to grow in your role, but to stay in it, you’ll need to upskill. Upskilling is when you learn new skills on the job that build upon your current skill set. It can be a powerful tool for your professional growth, job satisfaction, income, and career prospects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide, we\u2019ll walk through why upskilling is so important, especially in 2026, and give you tangible tips on how you can start upskilling right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upskilling is when you learn new job skills<\/a>, either independently or from your employer, that relate to your current skill set. Essentially, upskilling is leveling up your current skills, either by delving deeper into what you already know how to do, or learning skills that relate to ones already within your wheelhouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, as a writer, the first skills I learned were, not-so-surprisingly, writing skills<\/a>. In my current role, I’ve practiced upskilling by learning skills related to writing, like research, proofreading, editing, pitching, and finding sources. All of these skills are content skills that build upon what I already knew how to do and help me grow in my current role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue developing your skill set in a real-world context with Forage job simulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s the difference between upskilling and reskilling? While both areas are about learning new skills, they differ in what you\u2019re learning new skills for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upskilling is about learning new skills to be better at your current job and in your current career path. Reskilling is when you learn new skills for a different job or function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Companies may reskill their employees when they need to fill a hiring gap. Employees may do so when they want to change careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2026, upskilling is a crucial part of not only maximizing your career success at your current job, but also ensuring you’re staying up to date with industry and world trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn employee\u2019s ability to upskill is important because it allows an individual to grow professionally during their career as well as grow personally by learning a new skill,\u201d Olga Eippert, people operations professional, says. \u201cUpskilling helps employees to improve their flexibility, adaptability<\/a>, productivity, and efficacy \u2013 all of which can help the employee to perform their job duties better and more efficiently. Employees who upskill themselves are more likely to succeed in their career and have better career options overall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generation Z is known for job-hopping. According to the National Society of High School Scholars<\/a>, one of their main reasons for doing so is to upskill. A majority \u2014 67% \u2014 of Gen Zers want to work somewhere where they can improve their skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n >>MORE: <\/strong>Generation Z Workplace Statistics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n But what if you like what you’re doing, your company, and coworkers \u2014 but just want to develop your skills? If you like your current position, but still want to grow, you can upskill within your company. Upskilling is especially feasible if the skill aligns with your company\u2019s business goals, fills a knowledge gap, or helps you do your job better. It\u2019ll be easier to make a business case to your employer if you ask for resources to learn a skill they\u2019ll benefit from. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Upskilling can make you feel more confident, capable, and productive in your role, all of which can improve your job satisfaction. According to a survey from Amazon and Gallup<\/a>, 71% of workers who participated in upskilling said that they agree or strongly agree that upskilling increased their work satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Satisfaction doesn’t just stop with work. In the same study, nearly two in three workers said upskilling also improved their standard of living and quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to research from McKinsey<\/a>, skills you learn on the job contribute to nearly half \u2014 46% \u2014 of the average person\u2019s earnings throughout their lifetime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Upskilling can help you learn the skills you need to take the next step in your career. It can help you land that promotion or higher-level role at another company, with a raise or more money in your pocket. According to Amazon and Gallup, workers who take advantage of training opportunities \u2014 inside or outside of their employer \u2014 raise their pay by an average of 9%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, upskilling can also be a matter of survival, especially in an economic market full of layoffs and a professional world of rapidly changing technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n >>MORE: <\/strong>Can You Ask About Layoffs in an Interview? Yes \u2014 Here\u2019s How<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith a continued talent shortage, as well as rapid and continued changes in everything from software and automation, to collaboration and leadership expectations, keeping current on the skills needed is no longer just a matter of getting the top salary you want, but of being able to stay within the scope of the job you\u2019re currently in,\u201d Ginger Auchter, director of scientific talent at Carex Consulting Group, says. \u201cLike a product not invested in and kept up-to-date, those that don\u2019t stay current will find themselves passed over and trying to catch up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, as a writer, the widespread use of tools like ChatGPT definitely makes me more concerned about my career. However, I’ve focused on upskilling to ensure that I use these tools to my advantage and increase my impact at work. I’ve practiced my prompt engineering skills<\/a> to learn how to use the tool to help with content brainstorming, and improved my editing skills to practice revising and proofreading, which comes in handy when dealing with AI-produced content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Offering upskilling opportunities is an excellent way for employers to retain talent and improve their business model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a company is looking for specific skills to get a job done, upskilling can be a great way to fill the skills gap without hiring a new employee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n >>MORE: <\/strong>New Collar Jobs: Why Companies Are Prioritizing Skills Over School<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRegardless of company size, geography, or industry, employers are coming to the realization that the talent shortage is here to stay,\u201d Auchter says. \u201cThere are very few tools companies have to overcome this, but arguably one of the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective is to work with and upskill the great employees they already have. Upskilling is a win for the company, a win for the employee, and a win for the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVery few \u2014 if any \u2014 companies have fully skilled people in every role in the company,\u201d says J.R. Lowry, founder of PathWise.io, a career coaching<\/a> company. \u201cYou have to be focused on strengthening the skills of your employees, to improve the effectiveness of the organization, to build bench strength, to create succession, and to enable growth. Upskilling your employees is as existential for you as an employer as it is for the employees themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employee satisfaction isn\u2019t just good for the employee \u2014 it can make them more productive and efficient and even improve their quality of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUpskilling can further contribute to improving morale, improving employee engagement, improving employee satisfaction, and improving employee performance within an organization,\u201d Eippert says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUpskilling is both a talent acquisition and retention strategy,\u201d says Joe Mull, employee leadership, engagement, and retention expert. \u201cHelping employees who already know the organization add to their skill set typically comes with lower costs than attempting to recruit and onboard new talent. At a time when there are more jobs than people to fill them in nearly every industry category, upskilling programs help employers keep good people and demonstrate to potential new hires that joining the organization can lead to an evolving career path, rather than a static job with no future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When companies focus on upskilling their employees, they retain talent better. According to McKinsey, companies who invest in their people have attrition rates about five percentage points lower than their counterparts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We know upskilling is essential not only for your career growth but it can boost your job satisfaction and income, too. But how can you upskill, even if your company doesn\u2019t have clear upskilling opportunities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upskilling starts with you, not your employer encouraging you to learn new skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRegardless of your level in the foodchain, figure out what you\u2019ll likely be doing over the next few years \u2014 remember, YOU are driving the bus \u2014 and what knowledge\/skills you\u2019ll need in order to complete,\u201d says Bill Catlette, executive coach and partner at Contented Cow Partners, a leadership development firm. \u201cWhether it\u2019s via employer-provided learning or secured on your own, take ownership of your upskilling. Approach your professional development<\/a> in the same fashion and with the same intensity that every star athlete does!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are tons of skills you can learn: digital and technology skills, business skills, hard skills and soft skills<\/a>, to name just a few. So, which ones should you pursue?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen assessing the skills you want to focus on first, take a step back and look at both your broader company, as well as the broader industry,\u201d Auchter says. \u201cWhat isn\u2019t currently a strength but is needed for a promotion to a more senior role in your company? Also look at active job postings with companies you admire and see what is listed as a requirement for a dream role you aspire to, and would eventually like to apply for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further, if there\u2019s anything else your manager or coworker has commented on in your reviews, consider if there\u2019s a skill you can learn that addresses their feedback. You can ask them what skills they find valuable or think you could benefit from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forage job simulations are online programs that help you build job skills in a real-world context. For example, if you take a JPMorgan Investment Banking job simulation<\/a>, you’ll select M&A targets for a client, perform a target company deep dive, and prepare a discounted cash flow valuation<\/a> based on the forecasts you receive from the client. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Simulations are free and self-paced, which means you can join them at any point in your job search or career process. Forage offers job simulations to help you upskill a variety of skill sets:<\/p>\n\n\n\nStart upskilling now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Upskilling vs. Reskilling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Is Upskilling Important for Employees?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Growing Your Skill Set Without Getting a New Job<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Job Satisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Higher Pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protecting Your Current Role<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why Is Upskilling Important for Employers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fills the Skills Gap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Maximizes Employee Potential <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Employee Satisfaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hiring and Retaining Employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Start Upskilling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Take Ownership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Be Specific With What Skills You Want to Work On<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Take a Forage Job Simulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n