🛠️ Skills and Workforce #51

Hello 👋

Global workforce dynamics this week highlight contrasting trends across industries and regions. In the US, Meta cuts 600 AI jobs and streamlines its Superintelligence Labs to boost individual impact and accelerate decision-making, while Target cuts 1,800 corporate jobs to improve efficiency and focus on strategic growth. In India, Infosys adds 14,000 employees, reviving campus recruitment and strengthening long-term talent pipelines.

Governments and organizations advance upskilling initiatives worldwide. In the UK, Cheshire receives $1.2M to train clean-energy workers, Centrica launches an academy to upskill engineers, and Pearson partners with CEWD for micro-credentials and mentorships. In manufacturing, Jacksonville State partners with EOS for hands-on training, Caterpillar invests $100M in US workforce development, and IIT Madras collaborates with Applied Materials India for semiconductor training using digital twin technology. Technology skills see boosts from Google’s $9B AI data hub in South Carolina, the EU’s $58M program in Vietnam, and AWS and e&’s AI and cloud training in the UAE. Healthcare initiatives include Advanced eClinical Training received through the approval of the US Labor Department, Essential Hospitals’ mentorship programs, and Nigeria’s nursing and midwifery reforms, all aimed at strengthening workforce capacity.

Thanks for reading!

Global Labor Market Trends

🤖 Meta Cuts 600 AI Jobs to Streamline Innovation. Meta cut approximately 600 positions from Meta Superintelligence Labs to accelerate AI development. Employees are encouraged to apply for other internal roles. The newly formed TBD Lab, with its high-paid hires, will remain unaffected. This downsizing aims to boost individual impact and reduce decision-making delays.

🏬 Target Plans 1,800 Corporate Job Cuts to Boost Growth. Target announced 1,800 corporate layoffs to reignite growth after four years of stagnant sales. This is the first major workforce reduction in a decade for the Minneapolis-based retailer. The restructuring aims to improve efficiency and focus on strategic initiatives to drive revenue and competitiveness.

💻 Infosys Expands Workforce With 14,000 New Hires Through Campus Revival. Infosys strengthens the talent pipeline by adding 14,000 employees and reviving campus recruitment, with senior staff involved in hiring digital specialists. This strategy aims to support long-term growth and innovation while maintaining a competitive edge.

Green Skills

🔋 Cheshire to Upskill Clean-Energy Workforce in The UK. The UK government awarded a $1.2M grant to Cheshire to train workers in EVs, hydrogen, and solar energy through industry-aligned short courses, apprenticeships, and hands-on programs supporting the nation’s green transition and workforce readiness.

⚙️ Centrica Launches Training Academy to Upskill Green Workforce. The new academy will train engineers in EV charging, solar, and heat systems through large-scale reskilling programs, hands-on training, and nationally benchmarked short courses to strengthen the UK’s clean energy workforce and job readiness.

⚡ Pearson Connections Partners With CEWD to Upskill Energy Workforce. The partnership focuses on equipping workers with green energy and engineering skills through industry-aligned micro-credentials and mentorship programs, creating new career pathways in renewable energy and supporting global energy transition goals.

Advanced Manufacturing Skills

🏗️ Jacksonville State Partners with EOS to Upskill in Additive Manufacturing. Jacksonville State University is expanding its advanced manufacturing workforce pipeline by integrating EOS’s Ignite Program into its curriculum. The initiative includes industry-ready training on industrial-grade metal 3D printers, design, and process technologies to prepare skilled engineers and technicians.

🏭 Caterpillar Invests To Upskill Manufacturing Workforce In The US. Caterpillar pledged $100M in upskilling the US manufacturing workforce, planning to fund training centers and establish educational partnerships to strengthen the pipeline of skilled talent. This initiative aims to enhance the digital skills of the manufacturing workforce and support apprenticeships in accordance with industry guidelines.

🔬 IIT Madras Partners with Applied Materials India to Build Semiconductor Skills Pipeline. The collaboration integrates digital twin technology and hands-on semiconductor manufacturing training while strengthening R&D and simulation capabilities, advancing India’s specialized semiconductor talent development and workforce readiness.

AI & Digital Skills

🏭 Google Invests $9B in South Carolina AI Data Hubs. Google announces a $9B investment to build two AI data centers in South Carolina. The project will create hundreds of jobs and include partnerships with local colleges for AI skill training.

🌐 EU Provides $58M for Digital Skills Training in Vietnam. The European Union allocates $58M to boost digital skills and vocational training across Vietnam. The program will upskill workers in AI, cloud computing and data analytics through partnerships with local training institutions and tech companies.

☁️ AWS and e& Launch AI and Cloud Training Programme for UAE Workforce. AWS partners with e& to deliver AI and cloud skills training across the UAE. The initiative will equip thousands of professionals with future-ready digital capabilities through certified courses and hands-on labs.

Health Skills

🏥 Advanced eClinical Training Receives US Labor Department Approval. This approval enables ACT to expand its upskilling programs for medical technicians and clinical staff. The initiative will reskill thousands of healthcare workers through certified training pathways, addressing critical staffing shortages in clinical support roles nationwide.

⚕️ Essential Hospitals Launch System Solutions for Workforce Retention and Development. America’s Essential Hospitals unveils new system-wide initiatives focused on staff retention and development. The program addresses workforce shortages through upskilling pathways, mentorship frameworks, and career advancement strategies for clinical and support staff.

👩‍⚕️ Nigeria Advances Nursing and Midwifery Reforms to Strengthen Health Workforce. The Nigerian government launches comprehensive reforms for nursing and midwifery education and practice. These initiatives aim to enhance clinical skills, expand training capacity, and improve professional standards to address critical healthcare workforce shortages across the country.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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