DIAMOND: Reskilling Poll Results

EA Editor September 1, 2026 DIAMOND
DIAMOND: Reskilling Poll Results
01 Sep 2026
DIAMOND
September 1, 2026 EA Editor

Navigating Career Transitions: Upskilling vs. Reskilling in the Modern Labour Market

 

Developing effective employment strategies and adult education policies requires clear terminology. The concepts of upskilling and reskilling are frequently used interchangeably in public discussions, yet they describe two distinctly different learning journeys.

To explore public awareness of these concepts, the DIAMOND project ran a cross-platform poll asking participants to identify the correct example of reskilling.

Community Poll Results

Across LinkedIn, X, and Instagram, the community responses broke down as follows:

  • Hospitality worker becoming a web developer: 89% (Correct)
  • Graphic designer learning AI tools: 5.5% 
  • Project manager learning Agile frameworks: 5.5% 
  • Marketer learning data analytics: 0%

With 89% identifying the correct example, the poll highlights a strong understanding of how occupational changes function in practice.

Defining the Difference: Reskilling vs Upskilling

The distinction lies in whether an individual is expanding capabilities within their existing profession or acquiring an entirely new discipline to switch careers:

  • Reskilling (Changing Paths):
    Reskilling refers to learning completely new skill sets to transition from one occupation to another. A hospitality professional retraining to become a web developer is acquiring a technical skill base outside their previous domain to enter a new industry sector.
  • Upskilling (Levelling Up):
    Upskilling refers to acquiring new or advanced competencies to enhance performance within an existing professional role. A graphic designer incorporating AI illustration tools, a project manager adopting Agile methodologies, or a marketer learning data analytics are all upgrading their existing skill sets to stay competitive within their fields.

Why the Distinction Matters for Policy and Workforce Support

Treating upskilling and reskilling as the same process leads to mismatched training programmes. 

An individual’s upskilling requires modular, targeted updates to keep pace with industry technology. 

An individual’s reskilling requires structured foundational education, comprehensive mentoring, and bridge pathways into a new sector.

Frameworks like the DIAMOND ᴱGROW Index address this by moving away from rigid labels toward person-centred career growth models. By mapping capabilities across dynamic profiles, the framework helps workers and advisors determine whether immediate upskilling or a complete reskilling pathway is the right step forward.

Funding Agency: European Research Executive Agency (REA)

Learn more about DIAMOND: https://diamond-empower.eu/ 

Project: 101178081 — DIAMOND — HORIZON-CL2-2024-TRANSFORMATIONS-01

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA).

Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.