Assessing employees’ perceptions of reskilling activities in skill development and organisational competitiveness in the financial sector

Abstract

Modern banking requires constant reskilling of employees because new technologies like automation and artificial intelligence together with digital banking demand competitive organisations. South Africa faces difficulties with insufficient training evaluation processes and restricted resources which prevent advancement especially because employee insights about reskilling are not thoroughly examined. Grounded in Human Capital Theory (HCT), this study suggests that investing in employee skill development enhances productivity, innovation, and organisational flexibility to adapt to evolving industry demands. Utilizing a quantitative research approach, the study surveyed South African financial sector employees, applying Chi-Square tests to assess perceptions of reskilling's influence on skill development, talent retention, diversity, and digital competence. Results indicate that employees associate reskilling with enhanced skill sets and a reduced need for external expertise. While reskilling is seen as a significant factor in promoting workplace diversity, its impact on talent retention is less conclusive. Furthermore, hybrid and online learning methods proved more effective for digital skill acquisition than traditional face-to-face training. The study recommends that financial institutions adopt structured, technology-enabled reskilling initiatives, prioritizing hybrid learning platforms and AI tools to cultivate a dynamic workforce. Additionally, it advocates for policy measures that incentivize corporate training investments to strengthen industry resilience and calls for further research into the long-term effects of reskilling on employee morale and organisational innovation.