The HR industry is walking the talk when it comes to the importance of upskilling, according to a recent study by HubSpot Academy, a worldwide leader in free online training, whose mission is to transform the way people and companies grow in the digital age. Surveying 1,000 working professionals in Singapore, findings from HubSpot Academy’s latest study found HR employers to be the most supportive of employees pursuing upskilling opportunities during work hours.

While more than half (54 percent) of HR professionals noted that their employers encouraged them to attend classes and courses to learn new skills only outside of work hours, it was the lowest among all functions surveyed. In contrast, 71 percent of employers in marketing, 78 percent in technology and 66 percent in finance shared the same sentiment. It seems like more still needs to be done when it comes to supporting employees in upskilling efforts. In fact, 81 percent of HR professionals have expressed hope that their employers could place higher importance on job-related learning. In addition, 63 percent felt that their companies were under-investing in technology.

Technology raising the upskilling alarm among HR professionals

HR professionals are embracing the wave of digital disruption, with nine out of 10 agreeing that technology in the workplace has helped them do their jobs to a better standard. Acknowledging the role of technology in enabling them to stay ahead of disruption is one of the key factors driving HR professionals to invest time in upskilling. The top three reasons cited by HR professionals about why they take time to upskill were:

• To remain technologically savvy and relevant (74 percent)
• Growing the organisation they work for (59 percent)
• To achieve a promotion / pay raise at their current workplace (46 percent)

“Ensuring talent have the right skills and knowledge to create value at work is one of the core functions of HR teams. They have to lead by example in the upskilling drive, so other parts of the organisation feel encouraged to take the next step forward,” said Shahid Nizami, Managing Director, APAC at HubSpot. “One way to seek a middle ground is through online microlearning platforms. They often require lower time and monetary commitment, which allows professionals to ‘test the waters’ themselves. If they’re able to employ their new skills to bring more value to their work, employers can be more easily convinced to invest further resources in learning and development.”

Going the distance with learning

Survey results also indicated a shift in focus from formal education to continuous learning. While 70 percent of HR professionals agreed that their degrees have been essential in their chosen roles, 78 percent noted that traditional degrees will become less valuable in the future. In contrast, professional experience and regular upskilling have been noted to be more valuable than degrees in progressing their careers, with 89 percent of respondents agreeing.

Their efforts in continuous learning are already paying off. 63 percent of HR professionals noted that taking online, job-related learning courses has helped them secure job interviews, while 74 percent agree that it makes them more attractive candidates.

“The way we work – especially in fast-growing markets such as Asia Pacific – is changing at an exponential rate. That means the skills we need to create value will evolve just as quickly,” said Nizami. “At HubSpot, providing opportunities to upskill demonstrates that not only are we serious about investing in the company’s future, but also our employees’ individual careers too.”

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