🛠️ Skills and Workforce #36
HolonIQ’s Skills newsletter explores global labor trends, reskilling initiatives, and workforce gaps across impact sectors. Dive into the latest insights on the Green Skills Map, climate, space, advanced tech, and health—key to the future of work and innovation.

Global labor market trends signal robust investment in upskilling and reskilling to address workforce gaps and build future-ready talent pipelines. Canada’s NGen committed $1.29M to boost productivity and commercialization across 13 advanced manufacturing clusters nationwide. In New York, the Health Foundation awarded $500K to ease healthcare staffing shortages through innovative training solutions. The UK’s Green Plant Academy launched in London to tackle the construction skills gap, targeting 6,200 new plant operatives by 2027.
In Green Skills, India’s Tata Power opened a Green Energy Skilling Centre in Delhi, while St Kitts & Nevis rolled out solar PV training to empower local communities. The UK’s built environment sector formed a new net-zero alliance, complemented by Scotland’s Energy Training Academy partnership, closing clean heating skills gaps. In advanced manufacturing, Clarios is building a $600M Manufacturing Tech & Training Center in the US, Florida approved $1.75M for a new training hub, and Penang launched an academy to train 1,000 chip design engineers by 2030. Digital and AI skills expansion continues through UpSkill Universe, HP, and Google training 10,000 African SMEs; Great Learning’s free GenAI courses; and Huawei’s pledge to train 50,000 ICT professionals in South Africa. In healthcare, Namibia’s Project 2025 will train 450 professionals, MiraCosta College secured $1.2M to address San Diego’s nursing shortage, and Himachal Pradesh’s new paramedical programs aim to add 1,200 skilled graduates annually.
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Global Labor Market Trends
🌍 Canada’s NGen Injects $1.29 M into 13 Advanced Manufacturing Clusters Nationwide. Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) has awarded $1.29M through its Cluster Accelerator Network to organizations spanning various sectors like AI, robotics, precision fermentation, aerospace, and photonics. The funding empowers cluster groups, including SNOLAB’s CAMiNA, AI4Manufacturing Canada, and the Canadian Robotics Council to enhance collaboration, boost SME productivity, develop cutting‑edge tools, and accelerate commercialization in Canada’s advanced‑manufacturing ecosystem.
📜 Health Foundation Awards $500K to Ease Healthcare Staffing Shortage. The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York has granted $500,000 to combat critical healthcare workforce shortages across the region. The funding aims to develop innovative programs that address gaps in nursing and clinical staff, bolster recruitment efforts, and support training for healthcare providers in underserved areas. This investment seeks to improve patient access and reinforce staffing stability in local hospitals and clinics.
📉 Cardiff Training Provider Launches Green Plant Academy to Tackle Construction Skills Gap. Cardiff-based The Skills Centre has teamed up with Places for London, Transport for London’s property arm, the Earls Court Development Company, CITB, Sunbelt Rentals, JCB, L Lynch, NOCN, and FM Conway to open London’s first Green Plant Academy in Earls Court. Specializing in zero‑emission plant equipment training, the academy addresses a projected need for 6,200 plant operatives by 2027 and helps close the 251,500-worker shortfall in UK construction by 2028.
Green Skills
🏢 India’s Tata Power Opens Green Energy Skilling Centre in Delhi. Tata Power’s new centre trains engineers and technicians in renewable energy, strengthening India’s clean‑energy workforce. This program bridges vital skill gaps and supports the nation’s energy transition, aligning with broader economic decarbonization goals.
☀️ St Kitts & Nevis Launch Solar PV Empowerment Training. A regional solar‑PV training initiative aims to empower local communities in St Kitts & Nevis, equipping participants with hands‑on skills for green-energy deployment, a critical step for sustainable infrastructure and job creation in the Caribbean.
🏗️ UK Built Environment Sector Unites for Net-Zero Skills Push. Major UK construction and real estate players launched a cross-sector alliance to address critical workforce gaps for net-zero. The initiative includes employer pledges, workforce insights, and a national upskilling plan to accelerate sustainable transformation in the built environment.
⚡ Energy Training Academy and Electric Heating Company Join Forces to Close Skills Gap. A new partnership in Scotland delivers targeted training in electric heating and energy systems, closing critical skills gaps in clean heating technologies and driving workforce readiness to support the UK’s transition to net zero.
Advanced Manufacturing Skills
🔋 Clarios to Build $600M Manufacturing Tech & Training Center in the US. Clarios is investing $600M to establish a Manufacturing Technology & Training Center in the US as part of its $6B American energy manufacturing strategy. The center will focus on advanced robotics, AI-augmented vision, autonomous material handling, and next-gen manufacturing software to boost productivity, quality, and safety. It will also provide hands-on workforce training and innovation programs, supporting the company’s commitment to reshoring, upskilling, and strengthening US manufacturing leadership.
🏭 Florida Approves $1.75M for Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has approved $1.75M in the 2026 state budget to fund the Southwest Florida Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Punta Gorda Airport. This investment will support Charlotte County Public Schools’ workforce development initiatives, aiming to equip local residents with skills needed for advanced manufacturing jobs and boost regional economic growth in Southwest Florida.
💾 Penang Launches Chip Design Academy to Train 1,000 Engineers by 2030. The Penang state government has launched the Penang Chip Design Academy (PCDA) to train over 1,000 IC design engineers within five years, bolstering Malaysia’s leadership in front-end semiconductor innovation. Aligned with the National Semiconductor Strategy and NIMP 2030, PCDA offers industry-led training in analogue, verification, layout, and physical design. Backed by PSDC and global experts, the initiative positions Penang as Southeast Asia’s IC design hub for AI, memory, and edge computing technologies.
AI & Digital Skills
🚀 UpSkill Universe, HP & Google to Train 10,000 African SMEs in AI and Digital Skills. “Skills for Business” is a transformative program to upskill 10,000 SMEs in Nigeria and South Africa. The initiative targets training in AI, digital marketing, and e-commerce, with 50% of spots reserved for women-led businesses. Designed to drive growth, jobs, and resilience, the program is now open for applications from eligible small businesses.
💻 Great Learning Launches Free GenAI Courses for Students and Professionals Nationwide. Great Learning has introduced "The Great Learning AI Challenge," a nationwide initiative offering over 30 free Generative AI courses from July 13 to 15. This virtual event, commemorating World Youth Skills Day, aims to equip students and early-career professionals with essential AI skills. Colleges are encouraged to promote participation, with top-performing institutions earning the title of 'AI Champion' and exclusive rewards.
🤖 Huawei Commits to Train 50,000 ICT Professionals in South Africa by 2028. At the 2025 Huawei South Africa Connect Event, Huawei pledged to train 50,000 ICT professionals by 2028 as part of its commitment to build South Africa’s AI-powered future. The company is investing in local cloud, 5G, and AI infrastructure, partnering with over 1,400 firms, and tackling a national 500,000-person tech skills gap.
Health Skills
🧑⚕️ Namibia Launches Project 2025 to Train 450 Health Professionals. The project led by Namibia’s Ministry of Health aims to train 450 healthcare professionals over three years in fields such as dental therapy, audiology, and medical engineering, addressing rural-urban disparities and critical skill shortages.
🥼 MiraCosta College Awarded $1.2M Grant to Combat Nursing Shortage in San Diego. The grant aims to expand nursing programs and develop apprenticeships addressing San Diego’s nursing shortage, while the funding will also enhance simulation labs with advanced equipment to improve clinical training and prepare students for growing workforce demands.
💉 Himachal Pradesh Launches Paramedical Courses to Boost Rural Healthcare Employment. The state introduced new diploma and certificate paramedical programs expected to produce 1,100–1,200 skilled graduates annually, addressing staff shortages in labs, emergency units, and community health centers, aiming to fast-track job-ready professionals for deployment.
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