Upskilling in a Rapidly Evolving Workplace

by Clark Bartron

If you're not upskilling and pushing the boundaries of what you know, you're at risk of falling behind in a rapidly evolving workforce. Most skills can generally be categorized by their durability:

• Perishable Skills: These are typically technical or technology-specific skills (e.g., proficiency in a specific software version, programming language, or organization-specific processes) with a half-life of less than 2.5 years. These require continuous, short-term updates to stay current.

• Semi-Durable Skills: These are knowledge frameworks or industry-specific best practices, with a half-life of 2.5 to 7.5 years.

• Durable Skills: Also known as "soft skills" (e.g., critical thinking, leadership, problem-solving, and communication), these have a half-life of greater than 7.5 years and retain their value for decades regardless of technological changes.

So, what does this mean? To me, it means that I focus on experiences that elevate my durable skills, while connecting to emerging skills that will support my perishable skills.

Durable skills include:

• Analytical and critical thinking

• Creativity and adaptability

• Leadership and communication

• Problem-solving abilities

Perishabile skills include:

• Understanding AI

• Leveraging data analytics through technology

• Cloud computing and cyber-security

• Project managment

Ideally, your pursuit of perishable skills should connect to the more durable ones, creating more value for your employer, and for yourself.

How do you handle skill management in a rapidly evolving world?