As appraisal season nears, Indian professionals are pulling out their wallets, and not just for new clothes. A new report by TeamLease Edtech reveals a bold trend: employees are self-funding their learning to get ahead.
The study, titled “Impact of Upskilling on Performance Appraisals,” surveyed over 14,000 working professionals across sectors. Findings show that 84% of them pursued upskilling in the past 12 months. But here’s the real twist, only 23.9% had employer sponsorships. A staggering 46% paid out of pocket for their latest learning efforts.
Why this self-drive? Career growth is the key motivator. The report highlights that 64% of those who upskilled saw a direct improvement in appraisals. Even better, 42% got promoted, received a salary hike, or had their roles enhanced, within just 18 months of finishing their upskilling programmes.
Interestingly, timing plays a big role. Over 40% of respondents said they timed their learning close to appraisal cycles. This strategy improved visibility and maximised impact.
Self-funded learners were more likely to report positive appraisal outcomes than those who didn’t upskill at all. Employees in tech and finance led this trend. About 78.3% from these sectors pursued self-upskilling, often without any company backing.
In contrast, sales and marketing professionals preferred short-term certifications and online crash courses. These “just-in-time” learning modules offer instant value at lower costs and fit neatly into fast-paced workflows.
TeamLease Edtech’s founder and CEO, Shantanu Rooj, believes this shift is a wake-up call. “Professionals who invest in themselves gain skills, promotions, and recognition,” he said. “Organisations must now rethink how they support learning and tie it to performance.”
The study urges companies to align their learning budgets with appraisal cycles. It also recommends recognising self-initiated efforts and creating structured upskilling paths, especially for critical domains like technology and finance.
For individuals, the takeaway is clear: plan learning with purpose. Choose long-form programmes for strong career signals and schedule them wisely to ride the appraisal wave. It’s no longer just about talent. It’s about timing, initiative, and investment.
In the modern workplace, upskilling isn’t a luxury, it’s leverage.
