In early July 2019, Amazon made waves with its announcement that the company will pledge over $700 million to upskill more than 100,000 of its U.S. employees. Amazon’s big move comes during a critical shift in the U.S. workforce.
New technologies, like AI and Machine Learning, are automating jobs previously conducted entirely by humans. With technical innovations adopted by businesses every day, the way we work is changing and the workforce is forced to prioritize a new set of skills.
The economy is also operating under a highly competitive labor market in favor of talent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are now more job openings, 7.4 million, than there are unemployed Americans, 6 million.
An urgent need for new digital skills and a small talent pool leaves a massive skills gap in our workforce. People cannot keep up with the pace of digital transformation, while employers are struggling to recruit people with the right skills to adopt new technology.
Amazon recognizes these changes and is taking proactive steps to lead their company into the future of work.By investing in upskilling their employees now, they are setting the stage for long-term, sustainable success in the digital age.
Read the rest of the special report by Visual Workforce that highlights the surprising place that employers are finding talent: https://visualworkforce.com/blog/5-lessons-from-amazons-investment-in-upskilling
