Upskilling in the Digital Age: Staying Competitive in the Market

Upskilling is the new trend. Due to technological improvements, practically every aspect of our lives and work environments has undergone a major change. Uncertainty surrounds how much our lives and workplaces will change over the next five to ten years as a result of this transformation’s continually growing pace.

Technology offers a myriad of advantages in our daily lives, yet it also introduces a significant threat, particularly affecting women. According to the IMF, digital technologies put approximately 11% of women’s current jobs at risk of elimination, which is a higher percentage than that for jobs held by men.

While discussions usually revolve around the gender pay disparity, the significance of the gender skills gap is often overlooked. As workplaces continue to shift towards digital prominence, it becomes imperative for women to seize the chance to improve their digital skills. This step is important to ensure competitiveness in an increasingly digital-driven economy.

What is the definition of digital upskilling?

When we talk about “digitally upskilling,” there’s often an assumption that it’s limited to roles that are already technology-focused or advanced concepts like machine learning and artificial intelligence.

However, while digital upskilling can certainly encompass these areas, it doesn’t always have to be that advanced, and it can benefit a wide range of job roles that aren’t directly tied to technology.

At its core, digital upskilling involves staying updated with the latest technologies and applying new innovations and tools to improve your job performance. This might involve taking a digital marketing course to better understand social media mechanics, learning coding skills as a product manager, or gaining insight into managing big data as an HR professional.

A win-win solution for women

The advancements in technologies like automation and machine learning have the potential to replace millions of jobs with technology. However, alongside the jobs that might be replaced, there will also be the creation of millions of new roles.

In light of this, training becomes a crucial factor in empowering women to seize these emerging job opportunities and secure the longevity of their careers.

Training not only acts as a shield for women’s long-term career viability but can also result in improved compensation. Research conducted by BCG and the World Economic Forum reveals that 95% of workers at risk of technological displacement could be retrained for equally or even better-paying jobs.

Rather than perceiving technology and digitization as threats, it’s imperative that we view them as opportunities. These opportunities enable us to future-proof our careers, advance up the professional ladder, and narrow the gender pay gap.

Fostering flexibility

Upskilling brings not only professional advantages but personal ones as well, especially for those of us who hold primary caregiving roles for children.

Occupations that are digitally oriented often come with the advantage of remote work possibilities. Given that many women manage both careers and parenthood, transitioning into a digitally focused role can offer increased flexibility. This flexibility allows for a more harmonious equilibrium between a career and external responsibilities.

Upskilling Benefits for your employer

While some individuals might leverage upskilling to transition into an entirely new career path, it doesn’t necessarily mandate a complete career overhaul.

Upskilling and acquiring knowledge about digitally advanced approaches to enhance your current role can offer substantial advantages to your existing employer. These benefits could range from increased operational efficiencies to more sophisticated utilization of data and insights.

If you’re interested in upskilling while staying with your current employer, it’s worthwhile to help them recognize the value you can bring to your position and the organization through enhanced digital expertise.

Initiating the process is often the most challenging aspect. Therefore, if upskilling resonates with you, here are several ways to transform your aspirations for retraining into reality…

• Explore free training courses: Code First Girls stands as the leading provider of complementary coding courses tailored for women across the UK. Collaborating with various corporate partners, including Brit, they facilitate connections between prominent employers and female tech professionals. This not only offers women a platform to develop their digital skill set but also an avenue to forge a career in this dynamic domain.
• Explore what training your firm has an offer: Many employers throughout the UK acknowledge the essential requirement for enhancing the digital skills of their workforce. Hence, it’s worthwhile to investigate the training opportunities already provided or potentially available from your employer. If you find no suitable options, don’t be discouraged. Many companies are open to financing additional training. You might need to independently explore the training possibilities and assemble a compelling business proposal showcasing how the advantages of further training will outweigh the associated costs.
• Learn on the go: If enrolling in a course during or after regular work hours appears daunting at the moment, you might want to explore more manageable forms of training. Numerous apps are now accessible, allowing you to grasp essential digital concepts in smaller increments. Khan Academy offers computer programming lessons, and DataCamp provides insights into data science principles, all available on your phone.
• Make the most mentors: It can be intimidating to start a career in a new profession. Having a mentor during such times might be really beneficial. They act as a reliable guide, providing direction and insightful advice while you travel your chosen course. Fortunately, the UK has a strong and supportive community of women working in the STEM sectors of science, technology, engineering, and medicine who are keen to help other women who want to pursue careers in these areas. The Student To Stemette program, which connects women in STEM with people under 25 who want to start careers in the field, including women and non-binary people, is a great example.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com