Upskilling Seen as Key to Connecticut, New England Economic Growth; Policymakers, Employers, Educators Urged to Act

Upskilling is education, training and development that prepares someone for advancement in the workforce. Upskilling opportunities – increasingly seen as essential in today’s COVID-wracked economy – include employer training, credentials such as digital badges, and traditional college degrees.

A report issued by the New England Board of Higher Education and Strada Education Network has concluded that “populations most in need of upskilling are the least likely to receive such opportunities,” pointing out that “the economic shock caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus has only increased the vulnerabilities of these individuals,” to the detriment of the economic strength of the region. 

The successful implementation of upskilling programs will require “greater collaboration and alignment between New England’s educators and employers,” the report urges, warning that “upskilling remains a lesser understood part of the education and training ecosystem within the region.”   A recognition and understanding of the benefits that upskilling offers employers, individuals and institutions alike is imperative to move forward, the report states.

With the impact of COVID on employment levels in mind, the report suggests that “Mitigating the likelihood of a full-blown recession or even a short-term depression will depend on prioritizing the acquisition of in-demand, automation-resistant skills and credentials by New England’s out-of-work individuals and at-risk incumbent workers.”

The report, Upskilling New England: Bridging the Gaps Between Educators and Employers, also suggests that policy makers consider what it describes as “new delivery models,” where education and training providers implement flexible education and training delivery models to enable learning at home, in the workplace or community setting or on a college campus.” 

This would include “stackable credentials, transferrable credits and pathways to further education and training opportunities. This will enable individuals to transition to and from education and training, work and life responsibilities in a more seamless fashion—setting the conditions for successful lifelong learning practices.”  It also urges “Policymakers provide incentives, including grants and tax breaks, to stimulate employer investment in upskilling as a key business and workforce development strategy.”

The report, issued this Spring, cites national data, PwC’s 23nd Annual Global CEO Survey, which “reveals rising uncertainty among chief executives and workers about the future of the workforce: only 18% of chief executives cite “significant progress” in establishing upskilling programs, and only 33% of surveyed workers feel that they have been given enough upskilling opportunities to develop their skills in preparation for their employment future.” 

Among workers in New England, Strada Education Network's Consumer Insights Data indicates that half of adults believe they need additional education to advance in the workforce. The report concludes that “When workers are able to access educational programming on their job site or are given the flexibility to take a class or complete an assignment during the work day, they are more likely to take advantage of these opportunities and feel supported by their employer to do so.”

A number of industries are cited as ripe for upskilling, including heath care and social assistance. 

The health care and social assistance industry, according to data cited in the report, currently employs 1.23 million New Englanders (78% of whom are women), and employment growth is expected to increase by 11% by 2029. “Even though workers in the health care industry power our regional economy, the majority of them earn less than a family-sustaining wage. The pathways to good health care-related jobs for individuals without a postsecondary credential are limited, as jobs that offer family-sustaining wages in this industry almost exclusively require a degree,” the report explains. 

Another example cited is professional, science and technology services, where currently, 546,620 individuals are employed in the region. By 2029, this number is expected to rise to 604,294, an 11% increase.

The report urged action to assist employees in upskilling, calling on education providers, employers and state policymakers to focus on three target areas: partnership development, new delivery models and state policymaking, in order to increase upskilling.

“If employers, intermediaries or education providers constructed and promoted pathway maps from one occupation to the next, an employee would likely be more inclined to pursue the appropriate credentials to take the next step in his or her career.”