🛠️ Skills and Workforce Futures #12

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

💰 ILO Report: Labor Market Challenges Persist Amid Modest Global Employment Growth. The ILO’s World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2025 highlights steady global employment growth, keeping unemployment at 5% in 2024. However, decent work deficits remain, with youth unemployment at 12.6% and 240 million workers in extreme poverty. Stagnant wages, gender participation gaps, and declining productivity compound challenges. 

📝 Finland and the Philippines have signed a joint declaration to promote ethical labor mobility, addressing Finland's workforce shortages while protecting the rights of Filipino workers. The agreement ensures transparent recruitment, valid contracts, proper visas, upskilling opportunities, and support for family relocation. This partnership marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

🌿 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 

🍃 US Department of Energy Funds Non-Profits to Develop Clean Energy Workforce. The US Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Careers for All (CEC4A) program awarded up to $300,000 to seven non-profits promoting clean energy careers through STEM education, internships, and mentorship. Key initiatives include green building workshops (California Green Building Council), Zero Emission Vehicle training (EVHybridNoire), and geothermal virtual reality training (New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology). Top performers may receive an additional $750,000 in Phase 2 funding.

📈 UNICEF and Muslim World League Launch $1.5M Green Skills Program in Pakistan. UNICEF and the Muslim World League, supported by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), have launched a Green Skills training program in Pakistan to equip disadvantaged youth with sustainable development and digital skills. The initiative enhances employability in green sectors, building on a 14-year partnership between UNICEF and the Muslim World League. Aligned with UNICEF’s mission, it promotes education, child welfare, and economic growth, while SIFC ensures effective implementation to address youth unemployment and bridge critical skills gaps.

🌱 Cardiff Council Unveils Ambitious Green Development Plan for 2036. Cardiff Council's new “Deposit Plan” aims to create over 32,000 jobs by 2036, aligning with the city’s One Planet Strategy. The plan emphasizes sustainable growth, including low-carbon developments, energy-efficient buildings, and renewable energy expansion. It supports diverse employment opportunities by protecting existing sites and introducing new hubs in Cardiff Central Zone, Roath Basin, and other strategic areas. The initiative also prioritizes sustainable transport, active travel, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience.

📱 Advanced Technology 

💡 OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and UAE's MGX are investing $500B in AI infrastructure in the US through a new venture, The Stargate Project. The project has $100B in immediate funding, with the rest coming over four years. The first data center is under construction in Texas, with more planned nationwide, aiming to create 100,000 jobs.

🌐 The AI Skills Coalition, an initiative by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), aims to bridge the global AI skills gap with support from over 25 organizations, including AWS, Microsoft, and the East Africa Community. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the union will provide open AI training online, promoting inclusive participation. It aligns with the UN’s Pact for the Future and Global Digital Compact to ensure worldwide equitable access to AI opportunities.

💻 Merit Network has been recommended for an $11M NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant to expand digital upskilling in Michigan communities through the IMPACT program. IMPACT focuses on digital adoption, education, and capacity building, leveraging AI-powered tools to enhance digital navigator support, community planning, workforce training, and resource management. A key initiative involves developing a large language model to improve digital skills in underserved communities. The project aims to empower residents and close the digital divide across Michigan.

🚀 Space

✨ Durham University has launched the $6.1M Space Research Centre (SPARC) to support North East England’s space industry and promote sustainable space exploration. Bringing together experts from multiple disciplines, SPARC aims to advance science, business, and space law while developing a skilled workforce. As an ESA Lab, Durham gains access to technical expertise, funding, and collaboration opportunities. The university’s Centre for Advanced Instrumentation contributes to major space projects, partnering with agencies such as the UK Space Agency, ESA, and NASA.

🩺 Health

🧑‍⚕️ The Maryland Department of Labor has announced $1 million in grant funding for frontline healthcare workers to support recruitment, retention, and career development. The funding includes $250,000 through the Direct Care Workforce Innovation Program, aimed at increasing the number of direct care workers, and $750,000 through the Career Pathways for Healthcare Program, focused on continuing education for healthcare professionals.

🏥 The $1.5 million Country Roads Inclusion Program has been launched to recruit, train, and employ healthcare workers in rural Acadiana communities. In collaboration with regional housing authorities, local colleges, and healthcare systems, the program offers transportation assistance, educational support, paid learning experiences, and job connections. It aims to train and employ up to 450 healthcare workers, addressing the region's critical healthcare needs.

💉 The Sustainable Healthcare with Digital Health Data Competence (SUSA) initiative has been launched with €12M in funding from the Digital Europe Programme. This project addresses critical digital skills gaps in healthcare, equipping professionals to harness technologies like AI, IoT, and cybersecurity for sustainable healthcare solutions. SUSA brings together 12 universities from nine European countries to deliver 46 updated degree programs and 16 lifelong learning modules, aiming to graduate 6,558 students and upskill 660 professionals.

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