Five Ways You Can Upskill During Economic Uncertainty
By Shannon McDonald
There is never a bad time to upgrade your skill set. There are, however, times when prioritizing upskilling can be incredibly beneficial for your career. Though economic uncertainty can be stressful, it also presents one of the best opportunities to maximize the impact of upskilling.
With global tariffs looming and federal budget cuts reaching every sector of business, it’s clear we are living during some turbulent economic times. For consumers, economic uncertainty can cause tightened budgets and a loss of discretionary income. For businesses, economic disruptions typically result in the downsizing of the workforce.
The absolute best way to protect yourself from organizational downsizing is to upskill—invest in your learning journey by upgrading your current skillset or developing entirely new skills.
Here are five tips on how you can upskill during turbulent economic periods:
- Invest in Future-Proof Skills
When upskilling, you need to make sure you’re building skills that won’t just help you now, but will help you one, five, or even 10 years from now. Successful upskilling will lay the foundation for continued success throughout your career, so consider pursuing skills that you can compound over time. This includes digital skills like coding, cognitive skills like critical thinking, and soft/power skills like emotional intelligence.
- Take Advantage of Employer-Sponsored Training
Many companies, especially larger corporations, include education stipends inside their employee benefits packages or have their own internal learning resources. Check your employee handbook to see if your company offers any sort of sponsorships for continued learning or reach out to your human resources department about potential reimbursements for educational opportunities. Simply inquiring about these types of benefits will show that you are taking initiative and dedicating yourself to career improvement.
- Make AI Your Ally, Not Your Competition
It might feel like artificial intelligence is about to make your role obsolete, but if you prepare correctly, artificial intelligence tools will just make your day-to-day work easier. Don’t be afraid of AI. Focus on how to embrace it in ways that make your daily tasks easier. If you’re a project manager, look into courses that teach you how to automate and populate task boards. If you’re a sales professional, explore how AI can find you the hottest leads. Whatever your role, AI can support the work you are doing.
- Think Beyond Your Current Role
Though upskilling for your current job is helpful, you can also greatly benefit from thinking ahead and developing skills that you will need in the event of a promotion. There’s never a bad time to learn managerial skills or develop your leadership abilities. Upgrading the skills you use in your current role will demonstrate you’re taking the initiative to better yourself, but building skills for your next role will show that you’re serious about career progression.
- Commit to Lifelong Learning
Taking one course is a great start, but committing yourself to continuous education will ensure that you’re always prepared for any uncertainty the economy might throw at you. When you decide to learn throughout your career, you’ll be better equipped to stack your skills and build upon them in a way that will turn you into a much more versatile and desirable professional.
Focusing on upskilling can help professionals in San Diego navigate chaotic economic times. There are plenty of resources you can explore that will provide you with opportunities to develop yourself professionally. At UC San Diego Extended Studies, we offer a wide variety of courses, certificates, and programs in various formats to help you upskill. By upgrading your key competencies and developing new ones, you can transform and future-proof your career, establishing yourself as a desirable professional.
Shannon McDonald is Director of Custom Training and Leadership Programs at UC San Diego Extended Studies