pick up

[beachboy]

His career had just started to pick up again.
Does pick up merely mean improve in this case?

[billmcd]

That is my inference.

[euncu]

I wonder if it means more like resuming, regaining its previous position rather than improving.
I mean if we number his career steps, let's say, he was at ten, then dropped down to six, and now he is at nine or almost at ten or at ten.

Thanks for your replies in advance.