🛠️ Skills and Workforce #14

The world’s largest economy’s job openings dropped to the lowest levels in December 2024 at 7.6 million, the largest drop in openings since October 2023. Unemployment rates in Germany rose to 6.4% in January 2025, the highest since February 2015 as Germany faces its 3rd consecutive year of recession in 2025. This week also saw a few key reskilling/upskilling initiatives being announced across key impact sectors. Germany launched the Indo-German Green Skills Programme, backed by a $3 million investment that will establish 12 vocational training programs in four Indian locations, focusing on solar and electric mobility.

The US approved National Guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship Programs, aligning solar workforce training with federal standards, while the New South Wales government in Australia announced a new TAFE NSW Charter to equip the state with the skilled workforce it needs. A series of new initiatives emerged to significantly bolster the US healthcare workforce including the Iowa Healthcare Credentialing Grant, which was recently announced as part of Iowa's strategic plan to address the increasing need for healthcare personnel. This grant is open to eligible healthcare employers, allowing them to apply for funding through iowagrants.gov.

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Global Labor Market Trends

🏢 US Job Openings Drop to Lowest Level Since September. The US labor market showed signs of cooling in December as job openings fell to 7.6 million, the lowest since September and below analyst expectations. The JOLTS report revealed the biggest drop in openings since October 2023, though hiring remained steady at 5.46 million. The quits rate held at 2%, signaling cautious worker confidence. Fed Chair Jerome Powell cited labor market stability as a reason for pausing rate cuts, with economists now expecting no cuts before June.

📈 Germany’s unemployment rate has risen to the highest level in almost a decade. The unemployment rate rose to 6.4%, up by 0.4% points on the month, its highest level since February 2015 at the start of the year, according to new data from the Federal Employment Agency (BA). From December to January, the number of people out of work increased by 11,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis, bringing the total to 2.993 million.

👷 China's Employment Rebounded in 2023, Ending a Nine-Year Decline. China’s workforce dynamics are undergoing significant transformations, shaped by broader demographic shifts and structural changes in the labor market. 2023 recorded a short-term rebound in total employment numbers, marking the first increase in nine years. Employment figures rose by 6.9 million, while the labor force expanded by 3.53 million. This growth offers a brief respite after nearly a decade of decline in employment since 2015.

Green Skills

⚡ Germany Expands Indo-German Skills Program to Tackle Workforce Gaps. Germany is ramping up its collaboration with India to address a projected shortfall of 350,000 skilled workers for its energy transition by 2030. The Indo-German Green Skills Programme, backed by $3.12M, will establish 12 vocational training programs in four Indian locations, focusing on solar and electric mobility. Training is tailored to German and Indian standards, facilitating smoother migration and skill recognition. Germany may raise skilled labor visas from 20,000 to 90,000 annually.

☀️ Department of Labor Approves Solar Apprenticeship Guidelines to Expand Workforce. The US Department of Labor has approved National Guidelines for Registered Apprenticeship Programs, aligning solar workforce training with federal standards. Developed by SEIA, IREC, and MREA, the guidelines help companies create high-quality programs under the Construction Craft Laborer occupation. With 280,000 solar jobs, the initiative aims to standardize training, ensure fair wages, and expand workforce pathways through the ACE Network and IREC toolkit. 

🏗️ CEBU Launches Green Skills Training to Tackle Climate Change and Unemployment. A new green skills initiative, Project SustainABILITY, has been launched in Cebu, Philippines, aiming to train 12,000 students in sustainable industries over two years. Led by ASSIST with TESDA and J.P. Morgan’s support, the program equips technical-vocational institutes to address workforce gaps in construction, transportation, and agriculture. With the green sector expected to generate 5.1 million jobs by 2025, the project enhances sustainability-focused training, ensuring students gain vital skills for emerging green jobs.

Advanced Manufacturing Skills

🏬 New South Wales Government delivers new charter to meet critical skills needs. The New South Wales government launched a new TAFE NSW Charter to equip the state with the skilled workforce it needs. The center will deliver quality skills training to workers beginning and continuing careers in industries that are a priority for the state, such as construction, advanced manufacturing, and the care sector.

🛻 Mobile advanced manufacturing labs to bring workforce training resources to rural areas. Piedmont Technical College, Aiken Technical College, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College launched a unique collaborative initiative this week, a trio of mobile advanced manufacturing labs that will bring critical workforce training resources to rural areas across South Carolina. The new mobile labs are equipped with simulation software and industry-grade equipment to provide hands-on, real-world advanced manufacturing education and skills development.

⛟ UAH interdisciplinary collaboration with Mazda Toyota Manufacturing seeks to drive innovation in workforce development. The departments of Psychology and Industrial & Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (ISEEM) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) joined forces in a novel interdisciplinary collaboration with Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) to drive innovation in workforce development, employee retention, and performance.

AI & Digital Skills

🤖 Scaler plans to upskill 3000 AI/ML by 2027, bridging India’s talent gap. The program targets mid-level and senior professionals, focusing on advanced topics like Generative AI and MLOps. Partnering with tech companies, Scaler provides hands-on experience through 50+ projects and mentorship from experts from top firms. This initiative tackles the shortage of senior AI talent, preparing graduates for roles like Generative AI Specialist and MLOps Engineer.

🌐 Nigeria launches DeepTech_Ready to upskill 20,000 youth for data science and AI.  Funded by a $1.88M Google.org grant, the program is part of a larger $5.8M investment in Africa's digital transformation.  Delivered by Nigerian universities and tech companies, DeepTech_Ready offers hands-on experience, real-world projects, and expert mentorship.

🧠 ADB granted Azerbaijan $500,000 to develop the railway sector's digital skills. Funded by Korea's e-Asia Fund, the grant supports Azerbaijan Railways' digital transformation from 2025-2026.  It complements ADY's existing digital training program, which focuses on attracting external IT talent, training current employees, and hiring young specialists. The current training program is demand-driven, with departmental requests forming the annual plan.

Health Skills

🏥 US States launch grants and training initiatives to tackle healthcare workforce shortages. A $3 million Healthcare Credentialing Grant in Iowa supports apprenticeships for high-demand roles such as registered nurses and lab technicians. Washington University’s CAPS program has introduced a Bioscience Technology Certificate, equipping learners for careers in medical and research labs. Meanwhile, West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) has unveiled an LPN-to-RN Bridge program, backed by a $1 million grant, to help LPNs advance to RN licensure.

🧑‍⚕️ The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) expands healthcare training in 2025 to boost Alabama’s workforce. The initiative focuses on Nursing Support Technicians, a workforce of 12,000–14,000, with training support from the ACCS Innovation Center's Skills for Success team. To address 2,000+ vacancies, the Alabama Board of Nursing has also introduced a new nursing credential.

💉 Virohan & Mahajan Imaging partner for AI-powered healthcare training. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between education and industry, providing students with practical experience in real-world healthcare environments. The collaboration aims to address India's healthcare shortage of 5.8 million AHPs, who make up 60% of the workforce.

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