🛠️ Skills and Workforce #42

Hello 👋

In the labor landscape this week, a growing number of US companies plan slower hiring in the second half of 2025, with one in five employers scaling back, nearly doubling last year’s rate. India’s PM-VBRY 2025 targets 3.5 crore jobs in two years through financial incentives. The UK labor market loses 149,000 jobs, vacancies fall, and private-sector pay growth slows, ONS reports. Workforce training expands globally, including North Minneapolis clean-energy programs, vocational training in Addis Ababa, and a $10M Home Depot Foundation initiative in skilled trades.

Advanced manufacturing and digital skills initiatives progress. The University of Maine opened a 3,600 sq ft B.O.T. Loft for robotics and automation. Australia’s NRF, BDA, and AMRF partnership strengthens industrial capacity and creates skilled jobs. Edmonds College secures a WSDOT grant for transportation workforce training. Rwanda and ILO boost digital skills and SME growth, Salesforce and SNU train 1,000 students annually in CRM and AI, and Preface launches Hong Kong’s first AI-Q Test. Healthcare workforce programs advance with UCC’s $21.5M project, HealthInno’s $145K grant, and Zimbabwe’s plan to train 7,000 health workers annually. These developments reflect strategic global efforts to upskill workforces and address labor market pressures across sectors.

Thanks for reading!

Global Labor Market Trends

📉 US Employers Slow Hiring as Optimism Declines. One in five US employers plans slower hiring in the second half of 2025, nearly double last year’s rate, according to the Conference Board. Hiring freezes at firms like Meta and Novo Nordisk reflect growing caution, while automation drives companies to “do more with less.”

💼 India Launches Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana 2025. The ₹99,446 crore PM-VBRY targets 3.5 crore jobs in two years through incentives for workers and employers. The digital-first scheme strengthens formal employment, accelerates skill development, and drives economic growth under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

💹 UK Labour Market Continues to Weaken. The ONS reported a loss of 149,000 jobs over the past year as vacancies fell to 718,000 in June. Job cuts hit hospitality hardest after April’s tax and wage hikes. Private-sector pay growth slowed to 4.8%, down from 5.3% a year earlier.

Green Skills

🛠️ The Home Depot Foundation Commits $10M to Skilled Trades Education. The initiative expands training in carpentry, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing through Boys & Girls Clubs, schools, and veteran programs. By offering hands-on learning and certifications, it seeks to close the construction labor gap, empower underserved youth, and build a stronger, more diverse future workforce.

📚 China and Africa Partner to Strengthen Vocational Training. China, the African Union, and UNIDO joined forces to expand technical training through the “Luban Workshop” initiative in Addis Ababa. The collaboration focuses on equipping Africa’s youth with industrial skills, addressing unemployment, and supporting Agenda 2063’s vision for sustainable development and a competitive workforce.

🌱 North Minneapolis Launches Clean Energy Training Hub. The new center provides free, paid programs in HVAC, solar installation, and business skills to equip residents with clean-energy expertise. The initiative aims to diversify Minnesota’s green workforce, boost local job creation, and prepare communities for opportunities in the growing energy-efficiency sector. 

Advanced Manufacturing Skills

🧑‍💻 University of Maine Launches B.O.T. Loft-Robotics & Automation Training Hub. Located in UMaine’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, the facility delivers factory-authorized training, micro‑credentials, and K-12 programs using top-tier robotics from Doosan, ABB, Fanuc, and Universal Robots, aiming to upskill Maine’s workforce for advanced manufacturing, defense, and economic competitiveness.

🤝 Australia Boosts Advanced Manufacturing with New Partnership. The National Reconstruction Fund (NRF), Bradfield Development Authority (BDA), and Advanced Manufacturing Readiness Facility (AMRF) formed a strategic alliance to strengthen Australia’s industrial base. Bradfield will act as an innovation hub, linking resources to accelerate manufacturing firms, create skilled jobs, and enhance productivity.

🦺 Edmonds College’s CAP Program Receives $575K WSDOT Grant. Edmonds College is expanding its Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program with new funding, focusing on math, blueprint reading, tool handling, and safety. The initiative equips underrepresented communities with essential skills for Washington’s growing infrastructure sector.

AI & Digital Skills

🌐 Rwanda and ILO Partner to Boost Digital Skills and SMEs. Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) partnered to strengthen digital skills and support SME digitization. Linked to the “One Million Coders” initiative, it prioritizes women in tech while driving job creation and inclusive education.

🚀 Salesforce and SNU Launch Digital Skills Hub. Salesforce and Sister Nivedita University (SNU) partnered in Eastern India to launch an AI-powered hub and Salesforce Lab. The program will train around 1,000 students annually in CRM and AI, offering hands-on learning, certifications, and mentorship.

💡 Preface Launches 'Just Start AI' Initiative in Hong Kong. Preface, an AI education provider, launched a new AI learning initiative in Hong Kong. The program focuses on hands-on, practical applications of AI and offers an AI Quotient (AIQ) test to assess learners' skills. It is designed to prepare professionals and students for the AI-driven economy.

Health Skills

🏥 UCCS Launches $21.5M Project to Transform Douglas County Healthcare Workforce. Umpqua Community College secured $21.5M in state and federal funding to strengthen healthcare in Douglas County, Oregon. The initiative expands training facilities, supports faculty recruitment, and builds pipelines for nurses, medical assistants, and allied health roles to address regional shortages.

🧪 HealthInno Secures $145K to Launch Health Tech Workforce Program in New Mexico.HealthInno received $145K from the Encantado Foundation to establish a health technology workforce development program in New Mexico. The initiative will focus on training underserved communities in digital health tools, data systems, and telehealth, strengthening the state’s healthcare pipeline.

👩‍⚕️ Zimbabwe Plans to Train 7,000 Health Workers Annually Amid Funding Concerns. The Mnangagwa administration announced plans to train 7,000 healthcare workers annually to address shortages. However, questions remain on whether Zimbabwe’s financially constrained government can sustain salaries and incentives, raising concerns over retention and workforce stability in the public health sector.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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