🛠️ Skills and Workforce Futures #06

HolonIQ is now tracking reskilling and upskilling initiatives that are critical in bridging workforce gaps. Impact industries are rapidly evolving, fueled by technological advancements, decarbonization, geopolitical dynamics, and socio-economic factors. These sectors require considerable workforce/professional development initiatives to enhance workers' capabilities, boost economic growth, and promote social well-being. Read on for this week’s insights.

🌎 Global Labor Market Trends

💼 The US Labor Market Steadily Cooling Amid Higher Job Openings and Low Layoffs. US job openings increased solidly in October while layoffs dropped by the most in one and half years, suggesting the labor market continued to slow in an orderly fashion. There were 1.11 job openings for every unemployed person in October, up from 1.08 in September. This ratio, which peaked at 2.03 in early 2022, is now below the 1.2 that prevailed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

📉 Skills Shortage a Key Challenge for the European Labor Market. Márton Nagy, Hungary’s Minister for National Economy, emphasized in Brussels that addressing the shortage of skilled labor remains the most pressing challenge for the European labor market. Speaking at the Employment, Social Policy, Health, and Consumer Affairs Council meeting, he highlighted that 77 percent of companies report operational limitations due to this shortage, while 60 percent see it as a barrier to investment.

👫 Youth to Get 'Guaranteed' Training in Jobs Overhaul. The British government is pledging guaranteed access to apprenticeships and training for young people, as part of a wider proposed overhaul of the jobs market.

🌿 Green Skills Map 

HolonIQ has launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated to catalog, evaluate, and context components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

🌎 Climate 

🚗 UNDP and Partners Launch Electric Mobility Skilling Programme. In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Makerere University Innovation Pod (UniPod), and Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC), an Electric Mobility Skilling Programme was introduced to equip students with cutting-edge skills in electric vehicle technologies.

🌧️ Boston Secures $9.8M Grant for Climate Resilience Workforce Expansion. Boston has received a $9.8 million federal grant to create over 1,200 climate resilience jobs in four years, focusing on coastal protections and green infrastructure. The funding supports roles in construction, storm response, and wastewater redesign while establishing the Greater Boston Climate and Coastal Resilience Workforce Alliance to enhance training accessibility. Mayor Wu highlighted the program's security against federal rollbacks, and local businesses, like Parterre, underscored the urgent need for skilled workers in the field.

🌿 New City College Wins Prestigious Green Gown Award for Green Skills. New City College (NCC) earned the Green Gown Award for Next Generation Learning and Skills, recognizing its groundbreaking ‘Green Skills Revolution’ curriculum. NCC’s innovative low-carbon courses, supported by £10 million in partnership projects, focus on electric vehicle maintenance, energy efficiency, and solar power. With state-of-the-art labs and specialized staff training, NCC equips students, apprentices, and workers with essential green skills, positioning itself as a national leader in sustainable education and workforce development.

🚀 Space

🦾 Space Force Pilots Civilian ROTC-Style Program to Build Workforce. The Space Force has launched a pilot program akin to ROTC, offering college students civilian job guarantees upon graduation. Partnering with top universities, it provides firsthand exposure to Space Force operations. Civilians constitute nearly 50% of its workforce, performing critical technical and support roles. This initiative, supported by a five-year Congressional mandate, aims to strengthen the civilian talent pipeline, enhance technical expertise, and bolster awareness of the Space Force’s evolving mission.

🚀 IN-SPACe Recognized to Certify Space Sector Skill Trainees. India's space regulator, IN-SPACe, has been accredited by NCVET to certify trainees in space sector qualifications. This milestone enables it to offer training in critical areas such as satellite manufacturing, mission design, and propulsion systems. IN-SPACe aims to align programs with industry demands, building a skilled workforce for India’s space ambitions. This initiative strengthens India’s global space competitiveness through comprehensive vocational education standards.

📱 Advanced Technology 

🧑‍💻 PwC India and Masters' Union Partner on AI and ESG Skills. PwC India has partnered with Masters' Union to provide students with practical skills in AI, emerging technologies, ESG, and healthcare. This year-long collaboration integrates industry expertise with advanced business education, preparing students for corporate success in rapidly advancing fields. The initiative emphasizes hands-on learning, aiming to ensure a seamless transition from academia to professional life in an increasingly digital global landscape.

🖥️ Binance Partners with AltSchool Africa to Close Digital Skills Gap. Binance collaborates with AltSchool Africa to provide 500 scholarships, empowering young Africans with skills in software engineering, cybersecurity, and digital content creation. The initiative includes mentorship and career support, addressing Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital skills deficit, where only 2% of the workforce possesses the necessary expertise. This effort aims to equip students for global tech careers, aligning with Binance’s commitment to fostering an inclusive digital economy across the continent.

🏢 Scotland Launches Digital Advisory Group to Boost Public Sector Skills. The Digital Office for Scottish Local Government and the Scottish Digital Academy established the Digital Capability Advisory Group (DCAG) to enhance tech skills across Scotland’s public and third sectors. DCAG will lead efforts in digital capability development, advocate for best practices, and foster collaboration on resources and funding, aligning with Scotland’s Digital Strategic Plan to optimize services and drive efficiency nationwide.

🩺 Health

🏥 Nigeria’s Healthcare System Has Unveiled a $1 Billion Partnership to Strengthen Nigeria's Healthcare Infrastructure. The initiative focuses on improving accessibility and quality of care, with funding directed towards enhancing over 1,000 primary healthcare centers nationwide. A key aspect of the program is the expansion of emergency obstetric care services, aimed at addressing maternal and child health challenges.

👩‍⚕️ 36,000 Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, and Midwives in New Zealand's Public Hospitals Staged an Eight-hour Strike. This marks as the largest industrial action yet against the National Party-led government's austerity policies. This follows earlier strikes by junior doctors, lab workers, and ambulance staff. The government has directed Health NZ Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) to cut $2 billion by reducing staff, freezing recruitment, and limiting wage growth. New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) members voted to strike after proposed pay increases were capped at 0.5–1% over two years.

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