Go Back One PageAs technology evolves and changes the workforce landscape, industry too must respond to maintain a competitive edge and qualified employees. Amazon is just one of many companies using a training approach that has been used in business for many years called “upskilling” or “reskilling,” which simply means teaching an employee new skills or tasks to relieve some of the impacts brought on by disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
At Jacksonville University, the UpSkilling movement represents an opportunity to train the future and current workforce to fill positions that are only just beginning to take shape. Now more than ever, finishing one’s bachelor’s degree or pursuing a graduate degree may seem overwhelming or out of reach for many. Given these circumstances, and predictions of a recession, we believe individual learners and large corporations will be looking for alternative options for acquiring new skills that require less of a time commitment and are more affordable. Instruction can be broken down into bite-sized pieces and delivered in short bursts, enabling companies to prioritize career growth and professional development by offering employees short-term learning that is relevant and timely.
Consider these facts:
- A 2016 report from the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity estimates that 30 percent of young adults will not graduate from secondary school with the skills they need to hold most jobs.
- A study published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2018 estimated that 46 percent of all jobs have at least a 50 percent chance of being lost or greatly changed.
- The 2018 Future of Jobs Report projects at least 54% of all employees will require significant retraining by 2022 (World Economic Forum, 2018).
- One study published by PricewaterhouseCoopers predicted about 38 percent of American jobs could be at high risk for automation by the early 2030s.
- There is a severe shortage of qualified talent for the new digital economy. Jobs requiring knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and the Internet of Things are going unfilled in ever-greater numbers. Estimates suggest that U.S. software-related jobs are growing at 6.5 percent annually—almost twice the rate of jobs in general.
The UpSkill Institute at Jacksonville University aims to assist community members with gaining invaluable, modern skills to serve the latest needs and demands of the workforce.