📱 AI and Digital Skills #19
HolonIQ is tracking reskilling and upskilling efforts to meet the rising demand for AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity skills. As these fields evolve, continuous learning is key to staying competitive and building a future-ready workforce.
Global investments in AI infrastructure are expanding rapidly, as evidenced this week, with Amazon investing $20B in Pennsylvania to expand AI and cloud infrastructure, creating thousands of jobs. The UK launched a $250M “TechFirst” initiative to train 1M students in AI by 2030. RSM is committing $1B to integrate AI across its services. In Canada, DIGITAL is investing $30M to upskill 3,000 workers, while Penang’s PGIA 2.0 aims to train 500 GenAI specialists by 2026. Flex and MIT are partnering to transform manufacturing with AI, supporting advanced training and resilient supply chains. Together, these moves signal a global shift toward AI-driven economies.
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AI and Digital Labor Market Trends
💡 Amazon to Invest $20B in Pennsylvania for AI and Cloud Expansion. Amazon is committing $20 billion to build innovation campuses in Pennsylvania, focusing on AI and cloud computing, marking the largest private investment in the state's history. The project will create 1,250 high-skilled jobs, as well as thousands of jobs in construction and supply chains, and fund education and training programs, including K-12 STEM initiatives.
🚀 UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, Unveils $250M “TechFirst” to Equip 1M Students with AI Skills. The UK government has committed to upskilling 1 million students and 7.5 million workers with AI and digital skills by 2030. Backed by NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google, the initiative aims to close tech skills gaps, promote inclusive access, and power economic growth in the UK’s booming £72.3B AI sector, projected to hit £800B by 2035.
🤖 RSM Commits $1B to Accelerate AI Strategy and Empower the Middle Market. RSM is investing $1 billion over three years to expand its AI strategy, integrating agentic AI across tax, audit, and consulting services. Backed by a global merger, RSM’s move includes AI-powered platforms, talent development, and strategic partnerships with Microsoft and Blue J to redefine middle market innovation and client success.
US Dominates Private AI Investment in 2022
🌎 The US-led global AI investment is driven by Silicon Valley’s venture capital networks and a thriving ecosystem of more than 9,500 AI firms. China followed, leveraging government funds and subsidies, to dominate the combined market share of 80%.
🤖 The US leads in AI research, talent, and chips. China excels in data access and hardware, applying AI in facial recognition and smart cities.
📈 Future AI investment is set to accelerate, driven by geopolitical competition, breakthrough models, rising private capital, and national strategies focused on chips, data, and scalable applications.
Upskilling/Reskilling Intiatives
⚡ DIGITAL Invests $30M to Train 3,000 Canadians in AI & Workforce Development. DIGITAL has announced $30M in new investments to train over 3,000 Canadians in AI and workforce readiness. DIGITAL’s CareerTech and AI adoption programs aim to upskill diverse communities, including Indigenous groups and rural regions. Projects span manufacturing, aquaculture, healthcare, cybersecurity, and more, positioning Canada as a global AI talent leader.
🏬 Penang Launches PGIA 2.0 to Train 500 GenAI Talent by 2026. Penang has unveiled GBS Industry Academy 2.0: GenAI Talent Ready, aiming to train 500 AI specialists by 2026 to power Malaysia’s digital economy. Spearheaded by InvestPenang with support from MDEC, PSDC, and Penang GFG, the program targets IC design, GBS, and automation. Phase 1 kicks off in July 2025, training 100 talents, reinforcing Penang’s role as a key digital innovation and services hub.
🌐 Flex & MIT Join Forces to Reinvent Manufacturing with AI. Flex has become a founding member of MIT’s Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM), aiming to revolutionize production with AI and automation. Graduate and PhD students will work on supply chain resiliency, productivity, and advanced manufacturing jobs. The partnership includes real-world training at Flex’s sites and research collaboration through FIT in Brazil, highlighting a shared vision for resilient, tech-driven manufacturing ecosystems.
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