Upskilling and Reskilling Continue to Be Crucial for HR Professionals

Since the pandemic began, businesses have increasingly relied on HR professionals to run operations smoothly. From new digital technology to new strategies, the HR professionals handled it all. Companies continue to rely on them amid this digital transformation.

Now more than ever, the ‘people professions’ are a key unit for a successful business. And along with immense accomplishments comes greater expectations from those in this field. Thus, reskilling and upskilling remain huge priorities in the HR field.

Individuals in HR recognise the need to learn the latest skills to prepare for their roles. In fact, in 2022, there was a sustained level of reskilling and training. Reports by CIPD and Workday show that in the last year, 61% in this field have upskilled or reskilled.

Training is important for many reasons. For one, it allows HR managers to free up their time from repetitive, time-consuming tasks. To best manage people, they need to change the way they work. Also, HR professionals need to learn the latest software to keep up with digital changes. Knowledge of software such as Sage and Microsoft Office are more crucial than ever.

What Do HR Professionals Need to Learn?

HR personnel are training in direct response to the present needs of their job. Of those training, 34% said they were doing so in response to an immediate career need. So there is an urgent need for these workers to gain vital skills to succeed in their daily tasks.

What exactly are HR professionals upskilling and reskilling in? The biggest priority is supporting line managers in their people management (39%).

Data analysis skills are the second priority (27%). These skills help companies make data-backed decisions. They also help to guide the overall business strategy. Also, facilitating more flexible people operations tied with data analysis at 27%. This area includes things such as hybrid working or remote working.

Why Reskilling Current Employees is Important

Besides upskilling, reskilling is an important part of company success. It allows employees within the company to train for new positions. Then, they can grow within the company.

Also important, reskilling also reduces hiring costs for companies. A report from the Financial Services Skills Commission (FSSC) and PwC UK found that reskilling could save businesses an average of £50,000 per employee, compared to bringing in new talent. Plus, for companies with 30,000+ employees, employee turnover can cost around £48.2 million a year. So investing in current employees can dramatically drive costs down.

Reskilling benefits those who wish to change roles or improve their roles in a company. Not only that, but it also creates loyal employees. Employees will appreciate that their employer is investing in them. Thus, it will drive their productivity and creates a stronger company.

Consider Training to Gain Necessary Skills

The data shows that the need for upskilling and reskilling will not slow down anytime soon. If you need to upskill or reskill to start an HR career, consider a professional training program. The HR manager courses and HR training programs at Pitman Training can help you achieve your goals. They can help HR professionals improve organisation, digital skills, communication, and more.

The expectations on HR departments are larger today than ever. Thus, HR professionals should upskill to gain the necessary skills for a job well done. Training ensures that they can continue to help companies run in the most efficient way possible. Also, companies should consider reskilling promising employees. It will save them money, increase employee loyalty, and create a successful business.