The skills gap is one of the biggest challenges facing today’s workforce. As tech evolves and market demands shift, employees are racing to keep up, and employers are feeling the pressure. In fact, the State of the Workforce Skills Gap 2024 report reveals that over 70% of employers say this gap is slowing productivity and stifling innovation.
But here’s the upside: more companies are realizing the answer isn’t always hiring new talent — it’s unlocking the potential within the teams they already have. Knowing how to upskill employees effectively has become a powerful way to boost performance, retention, and long-term growth.
And while tight budgets and low engagement can still pose challenges, there are always creative ways to make upskilling work and thrive.
Case study spotlight: A scalable upskilling success story
The Building Blocks Mentoring Program (BBMP) is a US-based nonprofit that helps at-risk youth and underserved adults build job-ready skills. In 2021, they partnered with GoSkills to offer a flexible, accessible upskilling program that could meet learners where they are.
Their learners faced many of the same hurdles employees do today: outdated skills, limited digital know-how, and low confidence. But with personalized learning paths, smart tools, and a strong support system, BBMP achieved a 92% course completion rate and helped hundreds of people land meaningful employment.
The best part? They did it all without stretching their training program budget. Here are 7 proven strategies you can draw inspiration from.
Upskill for the modern workplace
Find out how the nonprofit Building Blocks leveled up their training with GoSkills
How to upskill employees effectively: A 7-step strategy
- Start with a skills gap analysis
- Use microlearning to make learning stick
- Personalize learning paths
- Embrace just-in-time learning
- Create a culture of mentorship and peer support
- Celebrate progress with recognition and rewards
- Track progress and optimize continuously
1. Start with a skills gap analysis
You can’t upskill effectively if you don’t know what’s missing. A skills gap analysis helps identify the competencies employees need for their roles and how their current abilities measure up.
At BBMP, Program Director Tierre Wright starts with one-on-one conversations to understand each learner’s career goals. Then, he researches job requirements and compares them to the learner’s existing skill set. The result? A tailored training program that’s both focused and achievable, designed to help employees reach their next milestone.
2. Use microlearning to make learning stick
Traditional training can be overwhelming. That’s why BBMP chose GoSkills—where lessons are just 3–6 minutes long and laser-focused on one topic.
This microlearning format helps reduce cognitive overload and makes it easier for learners to stay motivated. It’s especially effective for employees who aren’t confident with technology.
Interactive quizzes, gamified features (like coins and daily streaks), and short videos keep learners engaged without burning them out.
The way things are broken down into shorter lessons helps you build confidence as you progress. Additionally, being able to revisit material and navigate the content independently allows you to extend the use of the program as a resource. It’s like developing your own personal library of information that you can access whenever needed.
— Andrew Pendleton, BBMP learner
3. Personalize learning paths
Personalized training makes learning more relevant, engaging, and effective. At BBMP, each learner follows a custom path designed around their career goals and the skills they need to get there.
To ease learners in, BBMP starts everyone with two foundational courses: Customer Service Training and Leadership Training. From there, based on one-on-one conversations, Program Director Tierre Wright assigns additional courses aligned with each person’s goals.
With the right learning and development platform, creating personalized paths like this can be seamless. Look for features that let you group learners into teams, assign specific courses, and build structured learning paths that guide skill development step by step.
Want to take personalization even further? That’s where AI comes in. You don’t need a dedicated mentor for each of your team members — tools like GoSkills’ AI-powered course recommender help learners discover the right content and learn new skills from day one, while the AI Tutor answers questions and supports them throughout their journey.
4. Embrace just-in-time learning
Upskilling and reskilling don’t always mean completing full courses. Some of the most effective learning happens in the moment, when a specific challenge needs solving.
At BBMP, learners are encouraged to revisit lessons as needed — an approach known as just-in-time learning. This helps reinforce knowledge and ensures immediate application.
Andre Pendleton, a BBMP learner, used this strategy often. As he transitioned into a new role as an Advocacy Specialist, he regularly dipped back into Excel and Outlook lessons to pick up exactly what he needed, right when he needed it.
5. Create a culture of mentorship and peer support
Mentorship is one of the most underrated drivers of successful employee development. BBMP’s Program Director, Tierre Wright, stays closely involved with learners — offering encouragement, checking progress, and celebrating achievements.
In addition, learners gather in public spaces like coffee shops and libraries, creating a collaborative, peer-led environment that boosts motivation and consistency. These informal networks can play a key role in career progression and long-term growth.
Tierre was exceptional in assisting and directing us. He made sure we were equipped with the right tools and was always checking on us. He constantly asked us how we were doing, and we received so much encouragement from him. Every time we earned a certification, he would celebrate with us, take a picture, and share it. That made an awesome difference.
— Lorraine Moore, BBMP learner
6. Celebrate progress with recognition and rewards
Certificates are more than just pieces of paper — they're meaningful milestones that validate effort and fuel motivation. At BBMP, every certificate earned is publicly celebrated, sparking a ripple effect of enthusiasm across the learning community.
Recognition doesn’t always have to be formal. A shoutout in a team meeting, a LinkedIn mention, or even a small reward can go a long way toward keeping learners engaged. Gamification can amplify that impact even further. Features like points, tiers, and leaderboards tap into friendly competition and make progress feel tangible.
Some learning platforms, like GoSkills, even allow organizations to customize rewards, making it easier to align recognition with your company culture and invest in upskilling in a way that motivates your team.
7. Track progress and optimize continuously
At the heart of every upskilling initiative — and every continuous learning strategy, really — is the ability to track progress and adapt along the way. With the right tools, you can monitor engagement, performance, and outcomes in real time, making sure your training stays relevant and effective.
The GoSkills LMS offers detailed reporting so managers can see what’s working, where learners are struggling, and how to improve the experience. BBMP uses these features to keep their training agile and aligned with learners’ goals.
I can check and see what you're doing. So if I send out a homework assignment, I can go in at night and look into the GoSkills system to see if you really did what you were supposed to do that night. And that's a big thing that I love about GoSkills. It helps me a lot.
— Tierre Wright, BBMP Program Director
Take the next step in your employee upskilling strategy
Now’s the time to turn insight into action. Download the full BBMP case study to see how one nonprofit upskilled a non-tech-savvy workforce — without stretching their budget.
Upskill for the modern workplace
Find out how the nonprofit Building Blocks leveled up their training with GoSkills
Curious how GoSkills can help you do the same? Book a demo or start a free account to explore tools designed to make upskilling easier, smarter, and more effective for your team.
Experience the difference
Start transforming the way your organization learns — no credit card required. Get started in minutes!
Create your free account now
