Ever wonder why some companies experience high employee turnover while others boast teams with long tenure and remarkable engagement? The difference often boils down to how well an organization invests in its people. Workforce upskilling—providing employees with opportunities to learn, grow, and expand their skill sets—is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a competitive advantage when attracting talent.
39% of employees believe that not everyone gets fair access to growth opportunities within their organization
– Hays 2025 study
Why Upskilling Matters
Upskilling is the process of equipping employees of all levels with new and refined skills through targeted training and development programs. For HR professionals and corporate leaders, this strategy is much more than just a morale booster—it’s a driver of performance, innovation, and long-term organizational success.
– Source
Today, retaining talented employees is tougher than ever. According to a Gallup report, only 33% of employees feel engaged at work, and disengaged employees have a significant cost to organizations in lost productivity (Gallup). Upskilling can flip this narrative by offering employees a path to grow within their roles, addressing one of the leading causes of job dissatisfaction—a perceived lack of career progression.
Workforce upskilling proves to be especially powerful for Gen Z employees, who value career development opportunities more than any previous generation. Companies excelling in internal mobility—offering promotions and career transitions from within—retain employees nearly twice as long as those that don’t. The result? Higher engagement, better retention rates, and a workforce positioned for success.
Increase Engagement and Retention through Upskilling
When employees can see a clear path to growth within your company, they’re more likely to stay and give their best effort. Upskilling empowers employees by showing them that the organization invests in their development, fostering a sense of belonging, loyalty, and intrinsic motivation.
For HR teams and managers, this transformation leads to tangible benefits:
- Enhanced Engagement: Employees actively participating in upskilling programs feel a sense of ownership for their roles, leading to increased enthusiasm and productivity.
- Improved Retention: Upskilled employees see a future for themselves within the organization, reducing turnover and the associated costs of external hiring and onboarding.
- Elevated Performance: New skills often directly translate into improved performance, equipping employees to tackle challenges more effectively.
Assessing Leadership Potential with TalentClick’s Leadership Profile
Every organization needs strong leaders to thrive, yet identifying and nurturing intrinsically capable leaders is often a challenge. This is where TalentClick’s Leadership Profile (LP) stands out as an invaluable tool.
The TalentClick Leadership Profile helps uncover leadership tendencies in your current workforce by measuring key competencies, including:
- Workstyle and Performance – Understand the behavioral soft skills that translate into on-the-job performance.
- Business Reasoning – Measure abilities to efficiently make data-driven decisions, such as problem solving and verbal reasoning.
- Conflict Management – Evaluate skills in resolving challenges and creating solutions -with peers, managers and direct reports.
By leveraging the insights from the Leadership Profile, organizations can assess who is ready for leadership roles and what areas need to be developed further for the future leader to succeed.
Upskill Employees by Identifying and Developing Leadership Competencies
Once potential leaders are identified using TalentClick’s advanced assessment tools, the next step is structured upskilling programs to hone their leadership capabilities.
Leadership Profile participant reports are a vital resource in fostering self-awareness among employees. These reports provide individuals with personalized insights into their strengths, areas for improvement, and behavioral tendencies. By including actionable coaching tips, employees are empowered to critically reflect on their performance and take proactive steps to enhance their skills.
Employees who receive feedback had 15.9% lower turnover rates than employees who do not receive feedback.
– Gallup
This feedback not only boosts personal growth but also aligns with the organization’s goal of developing well-rounded and effective leaders who are more likely to stay. Once their areas for improvement are identified, the next step is to seek out opportunities to upskill.
Upskilling programs might include:
- Workshops on leadership fundamentals such as decision-making or delegation.
- Mentorship Pairings with experienced company leaders who can serve as guides.
- Online Learning Platforms tailored to organizational competencies and needs.
- Projects that provide hands-on leadership experience, such as managing a small team or spearheading a new initiative.
By grounding these efforts in insights derived from TalentClick’s Leadership Profile, organizations can create targeted, effective upskilling pathways that truly make a difference.
The Long-Term Benefits of Investing in Employees
Beyond improved leadership skills, investing in workforce upskilling sends a powerful message to all employees—it shows the organization values them and their potential. For Gen Z professionals, this is particularly important. A LinkedIn report reveals that 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company if it invested in their career growth.
Additionally, internal career mobility helps organizations avoid the risks—and costs—of hiring externally for leadership roles. Hiring managers know how exhausting and time-consuming the recruitment process can be. And when any hire or promotion doesn’t work out, the organization suffers setbacks in morale, financial investments, and performance.
Upskilling to promote from within eliminates many of these risks, creating a more stable, cohesive workforce where employees feel appreciated and incentivized to achieve their best.
Leadership Upskilling as the Key to Retention
Upskilling isn’t just about acquiring new skills; it’s about creating an environment where employees see—and seize—opportunities to grow with the organization. By focusing on solutions like TalentClick’s Leadership Profile and offering targeted development initiatives, organizations empower their teams to not only meet but exceed expectations. This leads to increased engagement, improved retention, and a stronger bottom line.
Are you ready to future-proof your workforce and take the first step in developing tomorrow’s leaders? Try TalentClick’s Leadership Profile and 360 Degree Leadership Reviews today and unlock the potential of your most valuable asset—your people.
