🛠️ Skills and Workforce #35

Global labor trends reflect resilience and strategic investment, as US energy services held steady at 635,077 jobs despite a minor June decline. China introduced 1,455 AI and micro-major courses to boost employability, while Michigan’s Colfax Township secured $1.5M for battery storage and solar energy infrastructure.

Green skills gain momentum as South Africa secures a $1M AfDB grant to equip youth with climate-smart skills, emphasizing gender inclusion and just transition goals. Australia launches $1M in TAFE Queensland grants to develop battery training programs for rural learners. The UK unveils a 20-year plan to build a fusion energy workforce, with UKAEA and East Midlands leaders targeting 6,500+ jobs . Clarios will invest part of its $600M strategy in a US Manufacturing Tech & Training Center for battery innovation and automation skills. Tata Motors commits to upskilling 50% of its workforce in EV and ADAS technologies. Queensland introduces a $2.4M grant to expand TAFE training for regional manufacturing talent. Digital and AI upskilling expands, with Oracle and depa training 100,000 in Thailand. Accenture and IIT Madras focus on developing software-defined vehicle expertise. CIMB invests $23M to advance AI skills and support workforce resilience under Malaysia’s GEAR-uP initiative. Meanwhile, healthcare advancements progress steadily through Adani’s $960M commitment and Texas’s $7.3M investment in workforce training. St. Bonaventure University secured $2.3M to train 77 behavioral health providers.

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Global Labor Market Trends

🌍 Energy Workforce Highlights Sector Resilience Amid June Job Dip. The Energy Workforce & Technology Council (EWTC), using preliminary US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, reported a slight decrease of 3,153 jobs in the energy services sector in June 2025, totaling 635,077 positions. Despite the dip, the sector shows continued resilience. Part of EWTC’s broader workforce monitoring efforts, the report underscores the industry's critical role in economic stability amid ongoing transitions in energy production. 

📜 Colfax Township Secures $1.5M for Battery Storage and Solar Projects. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy granted Colfax Township $1.5M as part of a $3.67M round supporting six communities to fund two major renewable energy initiatives: the Century Oaks battery-storage project ($1M) and the Silver Creek Solar installation. Half the grant is disbursed at construction start, the rest upon operation.

📉 China launches 1,455 AI & micro-major courses to boost employability. China’s Ministry of Education has unveiled 1,455 high-quality online courses,138 first-class university classes, and numerous micro-majors on its Smart Education of China platform, targeting fields like artificial intelligence and the low-altitude economy. Micro-majors offer concise, interdisciplinary training without awarding degrees, yet over 80% of participants from provincial universities report enhanced practical skills and improved job outcomes.

Green Skills

🌱 South Africa Lands $1M AfDB Grant to Boost Green Skills for Youth..  The African Development Bank is funding green training programs focused on youth and gender inclusion, aiming to fast-track climate-smart skills and support South Africa’s just transition.

🔋 Australia Launches $1M Grants to Boost Battery Workforce. TAFE Queensland opens $1M in national research grants to develop clean energy battery training solutions, targeting rural access and workforce diversity. Backed by federal and state support, the program aims to fast-track training innovation as Australia prepares for 100,000 new clean energy jobs by 2040.

⚛️ UK Sets 20-Year Plan to Build Fusion Energy Workforce. UKAEA and East Midlands leaders launch a 20-year partnership to train thousands for the UK’s first fusion power plant, aiming to power operations by 2040.  Focus areas include apprenticeships, advanced skills, and pathways to support 6,500+ future jobs at the West Burton STEP site.

Advanced Manufacturing Skills

🧪 Clarios to Launch US Manufacturing Tech & Training Center to Advance Energy Workforce.  Clarios will open a US Manufacturing Technology & Training Center to support advanced workforce training and R&D in energy storage. Backed by $600M from its $6B national strategy, the center will focus on robotics, AI, and automation while preparing workers for future manufacturing roles. It aims to strengthen US industrial leadership in battery production and energy infrastructure through hands-on upskilling and technology validation.

🚗 Tata Motors to Upskill 50% of Workforce in Next-Gen Automotive Technologies. Tata Motors has launched a large-scale initiative to upskill 50% of its workforce in electric vehicles, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, and smart mobility. Partnering with ARAI, Bosch, and Tata Technologies, the program blends hands-on learning and certifications to build future-ready talent. This initiative supports India's transition to smart, sustainable mobility and strengthens the country's position in the global automotive industry.

🏭 Queensland Commits $2.4M to Boost Advanced Manufacturing Skills. Queensland has launched a $2.4M grant program to strengthen advanced manufacturing training through TAFE Centres of Excellence. Focused on addressing skills shortages, it funds industry-led research projects that improve training delivery and employment outcomes. Open to partnerships between training providers, manufacturers, and communities, the initiative prioritizes regional access, job readiness, and economic growth.

AI & Digital Skills

🌐 Oracle & depa Unite to Train 100,000 for Thailand’s Digital Future. Through Oracle MyLearn, learners gain over 200 hours of digital training in areas like OCI, AI, DevOps, and security. The program provides foundational certifications and job-readiness badges to help bridge Thailand’s digital skills gap and boost economic competitiveness. 

🚗 Accenture & IIT Madras Launch SDV Upskilling Program for Auto Engineers. As vehicles evolve into code-driven systems, the program focuses on embedded systems, cybersecurity, edge computing, and protocols such as AUTOSAR. Aimed at automotive professionals for the software-defined vehicle, this initiative bridges the skills gap in a $3.5T market by 2040, preparing talent for the future of mobility and automation. 

💼 CIMB Commits $23M to Upskill Workforce in AI. This initiative builds on 2.66 million hours of prior learning and aligns with Malaysia’s GEAR-uP initiative to raise wages and workforce resilience. With tailored leadership programs, flexible benefits, and career development tools, CIMB aims to create a future-ready, people-first organization.

Health Skills

🧬 Adani Group Commits $960M to Boost Health Infrastructure and Workforce Development. The group pledges $720M to launch Adani Health Cities in Ahmedabad and Mumbai together with Mayo Clinic, featuring 1,000-bed hospitals, medical colleges, and research hubs. An additional $240M will fund a Skill University in Mundra to build a globally skilled healthcare workforce. 

🧑‍⚕️ SBU Secures $2.3M Grant to Train Behavioral Health Providers in Rural Communities. St. Bonaventure University received a four-year, $2.3M federal grant to launch the BRIGHT Project, supporting 77 graduate students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Occupational Therapy, aiming to enhance access to behavioral health care through clinical training, stipends, and workforce development. 

💵 Texas Invests $7.3M in Workforce Training to Bridge Healthcare and Tech Skill Gaps. Texas allocated over $7.3M in grants to 22 programs, with a significant share directed toward healthcare. Programs will train medical assistants, dental assistants, certified nursing assistants, and nurses across rural and urban areas, aiming to upskill underserved groups to meet the rising demands of the health sector.  

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