Six Reasons You Should Care About Upskilling
#5 – Society needs upskilling.
The success of a nation, a community, and your company, depends on its people. Companies need workers equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to compete profitably. While many employees with in-demand knowledge and skills are doing well professionally, those at the bottom of the economic ladder are being left behind. Take the following examples:
- Of our nation’s 158 million working-age adults, nearly 20 percent (40 million) lack a high school diploma. [i]
- According to the United States Department of Education, 60 percent of low-skilled adults earn less than $16,000 per year. [ii]
Without the help of their employer, many of these working adults will never be able to access the education, training, and development they need to move up in their careers. And, without advancing in their careers, they are less likely to be economically self-sufficient and able to contribute positively to our nation’s economy.
This isn’t just “someone else’s problem.” Your business needs healthy, thriving local economies to succeed, and you have a role to play.
[i] “Diploma to Career Pathways,” Ohio Board of Regents (2014).
[ii] “Adult Workers With Low Measured Skills: A 2016 Update,” US Department of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (2016).
