🛠️ Skills and Workforce #27

This week’s global labor market developments highlight strategic investments in workforce resilience and future skills. Ontario announced a $1B expansion of its Skills Development Fund, bringing the total to $2.5B to support worker reskilling amid economic and trade-related disruptions. In the green sector, TCCI Manufacturing opened a $45M Clean Energy Innovation Hub in Illinois, combining EV compressor production, an R&D center, and a workforce academy to build talent pipelines in clean tech. 

Ohio advanced its manufacturing capabilities through the launch of the Digital Enterprise Collaboratory (DEC), where XR labs powered by HTC VIVE and Virtualware will offer immersive engineering and prototyping experiences. In the digital space, AVPN, supported by Google.org and ADB, is enabling 49 organizations to deliver AI training to 720,000 workers and 100,000 MSMEs across Asia-Pacific. Addressing healthcare workforce gaps, Baltimore invested $20M through hospital grants to recruit, train, and retain nurses as Maryland faces a projected 20% shortfall by 2036.

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Global Labor Market Trends

💰 Ontario Commits $1B to Skills Development Fund to Safeguard Workers. Ontario is expanding its Skills Development Fund by $1B over the next three years, bringing the total investment to $2.5B. This initiative aims to support workers impacted by economic uncertainty and trade disruptions, providing training and reskilling opportunities to enhance workforce resilience.

📜 Philippines Unveils Decade-Long Plan to Boost Decent Work and Economic Growth. The Philippines introduced a 10-year labor market plan in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), aiming to promote decent work and sustainable employment. The strategy focuses on enhancing job quality, strengthening social protection, and aligning workforce skills with evolving economic demands.

📉 US Jobless Claims Fall, but Trade Tensions Cast Shadow on Labor Market. Initial US jobless claims dropped by 13,000 to 228,000 this week, signaling continued labor market resilience. However, escalating trade tensions, including a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, have raised concerns about potential economic slowdown and inflation. While employers are cautious about layoffs, trade-exposed sectors are beginning to see modest job cuts.

Green Skills

👷 TCCI Manufacturing Opens Clean Energy Innovation Hub in Illinois, Launches Workforce Academy. TCCI Manufacturing opened its $45M Clean Energy Innovation Hub in Decatur, IL. The hub combines EV compressor production, a workforce academy, and an R&D center. The facility supports onshoring EV components and training talent in clean energy tech. TCCI also unveiled plans to showcase innovations and speak at the 2025 ACT Expo in Anaheim.

☀️ UVI Launches S.P.A.R.K. to Power Clean Energy and Talent Growth. Backed by FEMA, the University of the Virgin Islands broke ground on a 423-kW solar farm under the S.P.A.R.K. Initiative, which aims to boost resilience and renewable energy education. The project will cut fossil fuel reliance, offer hands-on training, and empower local students with clean tech skills.

🪫 Google Launches AI-Energy Workforce Program in Michigan. Google is funding the training of 100,000 electricians and 30,000 apprentices nationwide, with Michigan playing a key role. Partnering with IBEW and NECA, the initiative blends electrical training with AI skills to modernize the US grid and support tech infrastructure growth.

Advanced Manufacturing Skills

🚀 Ohio’s DEC Empowers Workforce with XR Training Partnership. Ohio University, HTC VIVE, and Virtualware unveiled the Digital Enterprise Collaboratory (DEC), launching two state-of-the-art XR labs in Athens and Dayton. Equipped with HTC’s XR hardware and Virtualware’s VIROO platform, DEC enables real-time collaboration, product prototyping, and immersive training for engineers and manufacturing workers. This initiative aims to support Ohio’s growing advanced manufacturing sector, including 7,000 expected new jobs from Intel and Anduril’s upcoming factories.

🏭 AMSI and Terumo Launch $2.28M Workforce Training in Puerto Rico. AMSI, in partnership with DDEC, launched a $2.28M registered apprenticeship program in Caguas, training 41 Terumo Puerto Rico employees in advanced medical device manufacturing. The program offers 4,000 hours of on-the-job training and 288 hours of classroom instruction, covering industrial engineering, automation, and quality assurance. As Terumo expands with a $30M investment, the initiative strengthens Puerto Rico’s competitive edge in the global medical device industry.

⚙️ TSMC Drives Workforce Growth in Phoenix with New Training Initiatives. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is tripling its Phoenix campus over the next decade, requiring 6,000 employees by the time its third fabrication plant opens. To meet workforce needs, TSMC partnered with local universities and community college programs, offering a 10-day “Semiconductor Technician Quick Start" program and launching an apprenticeship initiative. These programs provide workers with certifications while earning a salary, expanding opportunities for high-wage jobs, and contributing to the growth of the local tech workforce.

AI & Digital Skills

⚡ Avpn is Introducing 49 Organisations That Will Train APAC Workers. AVPN, with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank, is funding 49 organizations across Asia-Pacific to train 720,000 workers and 100,000 MSMEs in AI skills, addressing awareness gaps and promoting inclusive workforce development.

⚙️ FG Trains 200,000 Nigerians on Artificial Intelligence. Nigeria’s government trained 200,000 people in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, aiming to build a digitally skilled workforce and strengthen AI-driven innovation, sustainability, and national development across sectors.

💻 Department of Skill Development Collaborates with Microsoft to Upskill Thai Workforce in AI through THAI Academy Initiative. The Thai Department of Skill Development and Microsoft launched the THAI Academy to train 100,000 workers in AI, aiming to boost Thailand’s digital economy and global workforce competitiveness by 2025.

Health Skills

🏥 Baltimore Invests $20M to Recruit, Train, and Retain Nurses Through Major Hospital Grants. The Baltimore Ravens and the Stephen & Renee Bisciotti Foundation awarded $5M each to MedStar, UMMS, Johns Hopkins, and Mercy Medical Center to expand nursing education, offer scholarships, improve retention, and develop career advancement pathways amid Maryland’s projected 20% nursing shortfall by 2036.

📃 North Carolina Upskills 800+ Workers Through Work-Based Learning Grants for Small Businesses. Backed by ARPA funds, the N.C. Department of Commerce and local Workforce Development Boards supported training in healthcare, leadership, and more, involving 346 businesses, offering on-the-job training, short-term certifications, and work experience to boost workforce resilience and economic recovery.

📚 Alaska Upskills 489 Residents With $2.6M in Health and Human Services Scholarships. The Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $9,000 to support students pursuing careers in nursing, behavioral health, and allied health fields, aiming to grow the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's healthcare workforce and meet rising regional demands.

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