Elly Yates-Roberts |
Microsoft has launched a new global initiative to bring digital skills to 25 million people worldwide by the end of 2020.
Microsoft says the programme is in response to “the global economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic” and that expanded access to digital skills “is an important step in accelerating economic recovery, especially for the people hardest hit by job losses”.
Jobseekers will be able to identify in-demand roles and the skills needed to be successful in them from LinkedIn Economic Graph data, and access resources to gain these skills in LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn and the GitHub Learning Lab.
“Covid-19 has created both a public health and an economic crisis, and as the world recovers, we need to ensure no one is left behind,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Today, we’re bringing together resources from Microsoft inclusive of LinkedIn and GitHub to reimagine how people learn and apply new skills – and help 25 million people facing unemployment due to Covid-19 prepare for the jobs of the future.”
Microsoft will also provide $20 million to help non-profit organisations worldwide assist the people who need it most and $5 million to community-based non-profit organisations that are led by and serve communities of colour in the USA. In addition, Microsoft has announced a new learning app in Microsoft Teams to help employers upskill new and current employees.
“Creating opportunity for every member of the global workforce drives everything we do at LinkedIn,” said Ryan Roslansky, CEO of LinkedIn. “As a part of the Microsoft ecosystem, we have the unique ability to help jobseekers around the world – especially those who have been disproportionately disadvantaged during the Covid-19 crisis – gain the skills and find the jobs they deserve.
“We’re proud to be bringing the right data about what the jobs and skills of the future will be to create the right learning paths to help 25 million job seekers find their next opportunities. We’re making it all available at opportunity.linkedin.com.”