🛠️ Skills and Workforce #62

Hello 👋

Global labor markets show uneven signals as the US faces a slowing labor market, with weaker payroll growth and cooling demand increasing focus on Federal Reserve policy. The UAE workforce, in contrast, expanded by 12.4% in 2025, driven by new private-sector firms and economic diversification, strengthening its status as a global talent hub. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s tech sector faces a widening skills gap, costing an estimated $11B annually as industry demand outpaces the supply of qualified digital professionals. Workforce development is also advancing in green skills, with UMB and Phase 3 Training expanding solar and renewable energy pathways, Mober partnering with TESDA to develop EV workforce programs in the Philippines, and Vinova scaling wind energy recruitment across Australia to meet growing clean energy demand.

Advanced manufacturing skills continue to be strengthened through initiatives like UCA’s Innovation Campus, CERT-Pipetec’s technical upskilling partnership in the UAE, and Rockford Workforce Agency’s $400K state grant. In AI and digital skills, SMU’s Resilient Workforces Institute, AWS and Exabytes’ $1.1M cloud training prepare workers for rapid technological change. Health workforce capacity is also expanding, with NYC Health + Hospitals adding 75 residency positions and New Jersey vocational schools connecting over 20,000 students to healthcare training and mentorship.

Thanks for reading!

Global Labor Market Trends

🌍 US Labor Markets Slowdown Raises High Stakes for Federal Reserve. The US labor market is showing signs of a pronounced slowdown ahead of the February jobs report, with expectations of weaker payroll growth and cooling demand heightening focus on Federal Reserve policy direction and economic resilience.

🇦🇪 UAE Workforce Expands Sharply as New Firms Strengthen Global Talent Hub. The UAE workforce grew 12.4% in 2025, driven by strong private-sector growth and new firm formation, reinforcing the nation’s reputation as a competitive labour market and global talent destination amid broad-based economic diversification.

💻 $11bn Lost to Tech Skills Shortage as Sector Outgrows Workforce. Nigeria’s rapidly expanding tech sector faces a widening skills gap that may be costing up to $11B annually in unrealised digital economy value, as the supply of industry-ready talent lags growing demand in ICT and advanced digital roles.

Green Skills

🔋 UMB and Phase 3 Training Launch Next Stage of Alternative Energy Career Pathway. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), in collaboration with Phase 3 Training, has begun the next stage of its Alternative Energy Career Training Program, offering free, hands‑on instruction in solar and emerging renewables to a new cohort of trainees and preparing participants for employment and internship opportunities in sustainable energy roles.

🚗 Mober & TESDA Partnership Advances EV Workforce Training. EV logistics leader Mober partnered with the Philippine Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to co‑develop national training programs in EV driving, maintenance, customer service, and assembly work, building clear employment pathways in the country’s growing electric vehicle sector and supporting green logistics workforce readiness.

🌬️ Vinova Wind Energy Recruitment Builds Australia’s Clean Energy Workforce. Specialised recruiters like Vinova are scaling wind energy workforce development across Australia by sourcing skilled professionals for onshore and offshore wind projects, helping meet rising demand for technicians, engineers and operational staff as the nation accelerates its clean energy transition.

Advanced Manufacturing Skills

🏭 UCA Innovation Campus Strengthens Workforce and Economic Growth. The University of Central Arkansas is building a new Innovation Campus that directly links higher education, applied research and industry hiring to strengthen workforce readiness and economic growth across Central Arkansas. The campus will house academic and training spaces alongside employers to expand pathways into engineering, technology, health informatics and advanced manufacturing roles, creating scalable talent pipelines and aligning education with real workforce demands.

🤝 CERT-Pipetec Partnership Advances Workforce Digital and Technical Skills. The Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) and Pipetec Solutions Manufacturing signed a partnership to co-deliver hands-on training that upskills talent in advanced manufacturing technologies and digital tools. The collaboration will expand practical workforce development opportunities, address evolving industry needs, and strengthen local employment pipelines in the UAE.

💼 Rockford Workforce Agency Receives $400K in State Funding. A workforce development agency in Rockford received $400,000 in state funding under a job-training grant to support expanded access to training across construction, culinary, nursing, and IT fields,  strengthening regional skill development and economic opportunity.

AI & Digital Skills

📚 SMU Resilient Workforces Institute Strengthens AI Era Workforce. Singapore Management University launched the Resilient Workforces Institute (ResWORK) to advance interdisciplinary research and lifelong learning strategies that strengthen workforce resilience amid rapid digital and AI transformation. SMU has committed S$5M over five years, anchoring long-term insights to help Singapore and the region adapt to evolving AI-driven labour markets and organisational needs.

☁️ AWS and Exabytes Launch US$1.1M Cloud and AI Skills Initiative. AWS and Exabytes partnered to launch a US$1.1M cloud and AI skills development initiative aimed at equipping hundreds of Malaysians, especially from lower- and middle-income communities, with industry-aligned digital competencies. The two-year programme blends structured training pathways, certifications and job placement support to help bridge Malaysia’s digital talent gap and enhance future employability in cloud computing and AI roles.

🤝 CERT and Pipetec Partner on Workforce Digital Upskilling. The Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) and Pipetec Solutions Manufacturing signed a workforce development partnership to deliver hands-on digital and technical skills training aligned to industry needs in the UAE. The collaboration emphasises practical upskilling in advanced manufacturing technologies and digital tools to bolster local talent pipelines and support ongoing digital transition efforts.

Health Skills

🩺 NYC Health + Hospitals Secures 75 Medicare-Funded Residency Positions to Grow Clinical Workforce. NYC Health + Hospitals obtained federal Medicare funding for 75 new permanent residency positions across seven public hospitals, enhancing physician training capacity in primary care, emergency medicine and specialty care while bolstering the long-term clinical workforce in high-need communities.

🧑‍⚕️ NJ Vocational School Partnerships Fuel Health Care and Life Sciences Workforce. County vocational-technical schools in New Jersey are expanding health care and life sciences pathways through robust employer partnerships and work-based learning, connecting more than 20,000 students annually with hands-on training and industry mentorship to strengthen future workforce pipelines.

🎓 West Virginia Wesleyan to Receive $1.2M in Grants to Support Behavioral Health Workforce Training. West Virginia Wesleyan College was awarded $1.2M in Momentum Initiative Grants to expand its addiction counseling graduate certificate and related training programs, increasing capacity to prepare professionals for behavioral health roles in regions with workforce gaps.

Thank you for reading. Have a great week ahead!
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