upskill

verb

up·​skill ˌəp-ˈskil 

upskilled; upskilling; upskills

1

transitive : to provide (someone, such as an employee) with more advanced skills through additional education and training

The company invests significant time and resources to upskill and train its employees …

—Santhosh Ramdoss

2

intransitive : to acquire more advanced skills through additional education and training

Workers who upskill are likely to exhibit stronger problem-solving abilities, a higher level of productivity, and better performance overall.

—Chandler Macleod Group

upskilling noun

Companies need to direct investments in training, tuition reimbursement and new approaches to upskilling so that employees are ready to step into new and better jobs across a wider range of areas.

—Margaret Keane

… rapid change in all industries means that our skills have a shelf life and constant upskilling is essential.

—us.kineo.com

Examples of upskill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The World Economic Forum's 2025 jobs research found 85% of employers plan to upskill their workforce, and platform data shows generative AI course enrollments climbing into the millions. — Michelle O'Connor, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Members of the current factory workforce can upskill into new roles as knowledge workers for the next generation of industrial technology. — Amit Chaturvedy, Fortune, 8 July 2026

There are plans to introduce training schemes to upskill staff and provide clear career paths for them. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026

Redifer said her agency’s strategic plan calls for deeper and clearer routes into good jobs for adult learners, young and mid-career workers who need to reskill or upskill. — Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for upskill

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill