More Than Half of Canadians Believe Upskilling is Very Important for Advancing Their Careers, New Survey Finds

23 October 2024

The 2024 Upskilling Sentiment Survey reveals communication and interpersonal skills as the most important to upskill in the next 12 months

TORONTO, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– As the job market gets tighter and more Canadians are struggling to gain full-time employment, the 2024 Upskilling Sentiment Survey, issued from Growclass in partnership with Angus Reid, captured the current sentiment of Canadians towards professional development. The data found that today’s workers view upskilling as a vital resource, with 60% of Canadians believing upskilling is very important for advancing their careers. Younger workers in particular are seeing the value in upskilling, with the survey unveiling Gen Z are the most likely to believe that upskilling is very important for advancing their careers (57%), but cite a lack of time (72%) as a barrier to engaging in professional development.

“The data coming out of the 2024 Upskilling Sentiment Survey really reinforces the idea that upskilling is no longer a choice, but a necessity for career progression with the rise of new technologies like AI and our current competitive job market,” said Sarah Stockdale, Founder and CEO of Growclass. “At Growclass, we’re dedicated to equipping workers with the skills they need to advance in their work lives, ensuring everyone has the opportunity for personal and professional growth no matter what stage of their careers they’re currently in.”

Highlights of the 2024 Upskilling Sentiment Survey:

Of the 65% of Canadians who are employed full-time, part-time, self-employed, or are business owners, 60% believe that upskilling is very important for advancing their careers.
Canadians feel communication and interpersonal skills is the most important to upskill in the next 12 months (60%), followed by leadership and management (48%), and artificial intelligence (37%).
Almost half (40%) of Canadians say they have engaged in some form of upskilling in the past year.
- Of that 40% who have engaged in upskilling, 44% say they were motivated by personal interest or growth, and 20% for desire for career advancement.
Canadians say their biggest barriers when it comes to engaging in upskilling have been lack of time (58%), cost of courses (49%), lack of relevant opportunities (33%).
Over half of Canadians (64%) say they would be more likely to invest in upskilling if their employer covered the cost, followed by low-cost or free online upskilling platforms (60%), availability of government grants or subsidies (43%), and courses with additional benefits like networking opportunities and mentorship programs (31%).

Generational Findings:

Gen Z is most likely to believe that upskilling is very important for advancing their careers (57%), followed by Millennials (52%).
Boomers were the most motivated to upskill in the last year for personal interest or growth (63%), compared to 47% of Gen X, 38% of Millennials, and 31% of Gen Z.
Gen Z (52%) and Millennials (56%) are most affected by the cost of courses/training when it comes to upskilling.

As more Canadians are seeing the value in upskilling for career advancement and long-term success, Growclass is at the forefront of professional development providing accessible and practical skills needed to thrive in the field of digital marketing, business and leadership.

To learn more about Growclass and to join the community, visit www.growclass.co/.

About Growclass
Growclass is an award-winning course and community specializing in Growth Marketing, equipping marketers with the technical skills needed for high-growth career opportunities. Founded by Sarah Stockdale, Growclass is dedicated to making digital marketing education accessible and inclusive. To learn more about Growclass and its programs, visit www.growclass.co.

Methodology
These findings are from a survey conducted by Growclass from October 8^th to October 10^th, 2024, among a representative sample of 1,522 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Contacts

For media inquiries:
Amy Sarkany
Senior Account Executive
Category Communications
amy@categorycomms.com