Upskilling, reskilling become increasingly popular strategies for employers

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Springboard’s State of the Workforce Skills Gap 2024 shows that reskilling and upskilling are top of mind for employers today. Over 63% of leaders surveyed said that upskilling is the top priority for solving their company skills gap in the next year, and 43% plan to invest in reskilling.

As defined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, upskilling happens when employees learn new information and skills to help them do their current job better and reskilling is when employees learn new abilities to take on a different job role or function.

We talked to workforce development leaders in the Rochester region to learn more about how reskilling and upskilling can benefit both individuals and employers and what resources are available locally to assist.

James J. Gertner is the director of workforce projects and operations at the Economic & Workforce Development Center at Monroe Community College (MCC) which oversees MPower – a partnership between MCC and Monroe County focused on the upskilling and reskilling of county residents through accessible training based on local market demand.

“I would categorize reskilling as for those folks looking to sharpen their skills and upskilling for folks looking to stretch themselves by changing careers or staying within their organizations, but taking that next step on their career ladder,” Gertner said.

MPower, which is funded by participating employers and by the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA), offers a myriad of upskilling and reskilling opportunities for both individuals and companies.

Some of the learning programs individuals have participated in recently with MPower funds include a 48-hour certificate program in medical/community interpreting; an Industry 4.0 Control Systems Specialist certification program; and a Cybersecurity Foundation: CompTIA Security+ certification program.

Custom training deliveries for local employers run by Mpower run the gamut from a popular course on supervisor basic training geared towards new and short-term managers and supervisors or those preparing for the role and a more niche, introductory course on diamond turning, a manufacturing technique.

When working with an employer to help them with the reskilling or upskilling of their employees, Mpower funds support half of the total project cost, while the benefiting organization matches the remaining half.

“Retention is a big issue these days,” Gertner said. “It’s one of the key points when are trying to provide solutions to organizations. Investment in training and development is minimal when it’s compared to trying to always recruit and fill open positions.”

Shawn L. Futch is the adult workforce development coordinator for the City of Rochester, which funds numerous workforce development programs for city residents through its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, such as the Employment Retention and Incentive Curriculum (ERIC) via Action for a Better Community.

Futch explains the four-week ERIC program helps facilitate hiring and retention training in high-growth, high-demand employment sectors within the city, including manufacturing, childcare and green jobs. It focuses on skills like emotional intelligence, relationship building, critical thinking and wellness.

Other city ARPA-funded training initiatives prepare city residents for new or first-time careers in the fields of healthcare, construction, culinary arts, agriculture, technology, and more.

“Collaboration is really huge,” said Futch, when it comes to the city’s programming. She holds small Meeting of the Minds gatherings quarterly with employers and training programs to find out how they can all work together to provide the best upskilling, reskilling, and other work development services for residents.

Dave Seeley, executive director of RochesterWorks, believes our local economy is at an inflection point where upskilling and reskilling are vitally important.

“I would say our region’s economy is in a very dynamic state right now,” said Seeley, explaining that while manufacturing and healthcare are still large employment drivers, there are new growth industries too, such as semiconducting. “There’s always a need to make sure that you’re staying ahead on the innovation scale.”

At RochesterWorks – a nonprofit that is Monroe County’s largest employment and training initiative – there is not only an emphasis on helping individuals find employment but also helping them grow while employed and helping their employer provide mechanisms for growth.

“We are also working with the employers now to help them improve job quality and to help them create certain benefits – whether they’re abstract or monetary – that can help retain employment,” Seeley said. “If you’re a prospective job seeker or someone who’s looking for a new job, you’re going to be looking at things that an employer offers and that includes career pathways.

To assist, RochesterWorks is now accepting applications from Monroe County businesses for its new RochesterWorks Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grant Program, which provides up to $10,000 in funding for area businesses to provide existing employees with upskilling opportunities.

The grant program was made possible, in part, through $245,000 in grant funding provided through COMIDA. Eligible businesses can receive up to 90% reimbursement in costs for preapproved, training-related activities, up to a maximum of $10,000, for training that is completed within six months.

Since the grant program was announced in February, Seeley says there has been strong interest from employers. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis through late 2024 or until funds are exhausted.

“I think it helps in that whole retention picture,” said Seeley, about the grand program. “It helps with ensuring that you’re able to maintain your existing workforce and make an investment in their growing skill sets.”

Caurie Putnam is a Rochester-area freelance writer.