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.