🛠️ Skills and Workforce #34

Global labor market trends this week highlight expanded investments in upskilling for digital governance, sustainability, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. India’s National e-Governance Division trained 59 officials in AI for data-driven governance, while Adani Group pledged $23M for a new skill university alongside $70M for integrated health cities. London opened its first Green Plant Training Academy to address a shortage of 6,200 skilled operatives by 2027.

Green skills surged, with the ILO launching a program to train 60,000 ASEAN youth in sustainability and tech. UNICEF and Africa Re committed over $1M to climate education. Nesta is scaling UK heat-pump installer training from hundreds to 5,000, and Nigeria is enhancing engineering standards to align with green infrastructure demands. Advanced manufacturing momentum grows as RTX and Singapore’s EDB sign a 10-year workforce pact. ASTM and Nikon AM are co-developing DoD-focused training, while NSF invests $26M in manufacturing research and skill development. Digital and health upskilling accelerate globally. NDDC is training 1,000 Niger Delta youth in tech and entrepreneurship. AWS Japan will skill 100+ in AI to support regional growth, while Simplilearn and Michigan launch a GenAI leadership program. In healthcare, Ontario’s $235M investment supports 130 care teams and 300,000 residents. UA and DCH expand RN-to-BSN access, and Nuvance Health’s $5M initiative will train 225 disconnected youth for careers in healthcare.

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Global Labor Market Trends

🌍 Indian Government Officials Undergo AI Training at IIT Delhi to Boost Digital Governance. The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and IIT Delhi held a two-day workshop on "Artificial Intelligence in Governance" for 59 central and state government officials. Conducted under Phase III of the Digital India Capacity Building Scheme, the program covered AI policy, ethics, and use cases in governance to promote data-driven decision-making and enhance citizen service delivery through AI integration.

📜 London Unveils First Dedicated Green Plant Training Academy to Tackle Skills Shortage. London’s first dedicated Green Plant Training Academy has opened at Earls Court to tackle the growing shortage of plant operatives. Backed by TfL’s Places for London, CITB, and industry leaders like JCB, the academy offers hands-on training with zero-emission machinery. The initiative supports the need for 6,200 operatives by 2027 and promotes sustainable, inclusive employment in construction. 

📉 Adani Group Allocates $70 M for Health Cities, Plus $23 M for Skill University. The Adani Group has announced plans to invest $70 M to establish integrated health cities in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, it will allocate $23 M to set up a skill development university in Mundra. The dual initiative aims to enhance affordable, top-tier healthcare and vocational education across India.

Green Skills

🌍 ILO Launches Green & Digital Skills Initiative. The International Labour Organization is poised to launch a green and digital skills program focused on the construction sector in Southeast Asia. The initiative combines sustainability and tech training, preparing regional youth for emerging green economy roles across multiple sectors.

🌱 Africa–UNICEF $1.5M Climate Skills Deal. Africa Re and UNICEF commit $1.5M to climate education programs across schools and communities. The partnership trains youth in climate resilience and awareness, fostering a generation equipped to address environmental challenges through practical, green-focused skills development.

🏡 Heat‑pump Installer Training Expansion. Nesta is expanding its free heat‑pump training from hundreds to 5,000 installers, supporting the low-carbon home heating rollout. The government-funded scheme builds a skilled workforce capable of meeting the growing demand for sustainable residential energy solutions.

🛠️ Nigeria Enhances Engineering Training Standards. Nigeria’s Engineers Council is partnering with a local civil engineering and construction firm to enrich professional practice through updated training modules. The program equips local engineers with skills in sustainable design and green infrastructure, aligning construction standards with environmental priorities.

Advanced Manufacturing Skills

✈️ RTX & EDB Sign 10-Year Pact to Advance Manufacturing & Talent in Singapore. RTX and Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) have signed a 10-year MoU to deepen strategic collaboration in advanced manufacturing, MRO, AI, and workforce development. Singapore, RTX’s third-largest global site, already hosts 4,300 employees across 12 factories. The deal strengthens Singapore’s role as a regional aerospace hub and includes investment in foundational technologies for next-gen platforms, underscoring long-term innovation and talent growth in Asia-Pacific’s aerospace sector.

🏗️ ASTM & Nikon AM Partner to Train DoD-Focused Manufacturing Workforce. ASTM International and Nikon Advanced Manufacturing have signed an MoU to co-develop education, training, and certification programs tailored to the US Department of Defense’s advanced manufacturing needs. Based at Nikon’s Long Beach tech center, the partnership includes federal engagement, joint R&D, and participation in ASTM’s ICAM events. The initiative links workforce development to national security, bolstering supply chains and accelerating industrial-scale adoption of AM technologies.

📡 NSF Commits $26M to Advance US Manufacturing Research and Workforce Development. The US National Science Foundation has invested $25.5M in research grants and seed projects through its Future Manufacturing program, supporting innovation in biomanufacturing, cyber manufacturing, and quantum technologies. These initiatives foster multidisciplinary collaboration and focus on upskilling America's workforce to lead in advanced manufacturing. This funding strengthens US manufacturing capabilities while preparing talent for emerging sectors and transformative technologies.

AI & Digital Skills

🌐 NDDC to Train 1,000 Niger Delta Youths in Digital Skills to Shift Focus Beyond Oil. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will train 1,000 youths at a digital summit in Port Harcourt, aimed at redirecting energy from cybercrime to legitimate digital opportunities. The program will offer tech training, startup capital, and guidance on remote work, fintech, agritech, and more.

💻 AWS Japan Partners with Colleges to Boost AI Talent for Regional Revitalization. AWS Japan has teamed up with Asahikawa and Toyama National Colleges of Technology to address Japan’s AI talent shortage and stimulate regional revitalization. Through free programs like AWS Academy and Skill Builder, the initiative aims to train 100+ AI-skilled individuals over three years. It builds on Japan’s Society 5.0 strategy to merge digital and physical spaces for economic and social progress.

🚀 Simplilearn & Michigan Engineering Launch GenAI Leadership Program. Simplilearn and Michigan Engineering Professional Education have partnered to launch a Generative AI Applications for Leaders program. Learners gain practical skills in automation, analytics, and ethical AI, earning certifications from Michigan Engineering and Microsoft.

Health Skills

💉 Ontario Invests $235M to Expand Primary Care Access for 300,000 Residents. As part of a $21B Primary Care Action Plan, Ontario is launching over 130 new and expanded primary care teams, aiming to support recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare workers, with $142M allocated for team staffing and $300M for 17 new community-based teaching clinics. 

💊 UA and DCH Health System Launch RN-to-BSN Program to Boost Nursing Workforce in Alabama. The University of Alabama and DCH Health System have partnered to expand access to the RN to BSN online degree for working nurses. The initiative includes scholarships and access to over 100 UA Online programs, supporting the career advancement of the healthcare workforce. 

📃 Nuvance Health Receives $5M from Dalio Education to Train Disconnected Youth for Healthcare Careers. The donation is aimed at launching the Academy for Career Readiness, supporting up to 225 disconnected youth in Norwalk and Danbury, Connecticut, with training pathways into healthcare, addressing workforce shortages.

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