Leuven, Belgium, April 4, 2024 – Cisco and a group of eight leading companies, including Accenture, Eightfold, Google, IBM, Indeed, Intel, Microsoft, and SAP, and six advisors today announced the We announced the launch. The Technology (ICT) Workforce Consortium focused on upskilling and reskilling those most likely to be impacted by AI.
The consortium is facilitated by the work of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Talent for Growth Task Force, which will explore the impact of AI on ICT jobs and help workers access relevant training programs. We aim to make it discoverable, accessible and connect businesses. For skilled, work-ready workers.
Acting as a private sector collaborator, the consortium assesses how AI will transform jobs and the skills workers need to succeed. The first stage of work culminates in a report containing actionable insights for business leaders and employees. We will provide more information in the coming months. The findings aim to provide practical insights and recommendations for employers looking to reskill and upskill their workforces in preparation for an AI-enabled environment.
Consortium members represent a variety of companies innovating at the cutting edge of AI that also understand the current and imminent impact of AI on the workforce. Consortium members have independently documented the opportunities and challenges posed by AI. A collaborative effort allows organizations to integrate insights, recommend action plans, and leverage findings within their broader spheres of influence.
“AI is accelerating the pace of change in the global workforce, presenting a powerful opportunity for the private sector to help upskill and reskill workers for the future,” said Cisco Executive Vice President said Francine Katsudas, President and Chief People, Policy and Purpose Officer. “The mission of the newly announced AI-enabled Workforce Consortium is to equip organizations with knowledge about the impact of AI on the workforce and equip workers with relevant skills. Leaving no one behind in the AI revolution. We look forward to working with other stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and the academic community, as we take this important first step to ensure that
The consortium's efforts are inspired by TTC's Talent for Growth Task Force and Cisco Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins' leadership of the Skills Training Workstream, as well as input from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The TTC was launched in 2021 by U.S. President Joe Biden, European Commission President von der Leyen, and European Council President Michel Michel, with the aim of promoting the competitiveness and prosperity of the United States and the European Union through cooperation and democratic approaches to trade, technology, and security. Established in June.
“At the U.S. Department of Commerce, we are focused on advancing advanced technology and deepening trade and investment relationships with our partners and allies around the world. We believe that economic security and national security are inextricably linked. That's why I'm proud to continue the work of the Talent for Growth Task Force with the creation of the AI-enabled ICT Workforce Consortium,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “We are grateful to the members of the consortium for participating in this effort to address the new workforce needs created by the rapid development of AI. We hope this consortium is just the beginning and that the private sector will see this as a call to action to ensure their workforces reap the benefits of AI. hoping.”
The AI-Enabled ICT Workforce Consortium's efforts address the critical and growing business need for a skilled workforce trained in various aspects of AI, including skills to implement AI applications across business processes. The consortium will leverage its members and advisors to create an inclusive, skilled workforce that benefits multiple stakeholders, including students, career changers, current IT workers, employers, and educators. Encourage and strengthen upskilling and upskilling training programs that can improve skills at scale. The era of AI.
In the first phase of the work, the consortium will assess the impact of AI on 56 ICT jobs and provide training recommendations for affected jobs. These roles include the top 45 ICT job openings from February 2023 to February 2024 in the United States and the five European countries with the largest ICT workforce (France, Germany, Italy, and Spain). Includes 80% of occupations. , Netherlands) according to Indeed Hiring Lab. These countries represent a significant part of the ICT sector, with a total of 10 million ICT workers.
Consortium members broadly recognize the urgency and importance of efforts that combine the acceleration of AI in all aspects of business with the need to build an inclusive workforce with opportunities to sustain families. . Consortium members are working to develop pathways for workers, particularly in occupations that increasingly integrate artificial intelligence technologies. To achieve this objective, consortium members have set forward-thinking goals with skills development and training programs that will positively impact more than 95 million individuals worldwide over the next 10 years. Goals for consortium members include:
- Cisco plans to train 25 million people with cybersecurity and digital skills by 2032.
- IBM plans to equip 30 million people with digital skills, including 2 million in AI, by 2030.
- By 2030, Intel plans to equip more than 30 million people with AI skills to power their jobs now and in the future.
- By 2025, Microsoft plans to train and certify 10 million people in underserved communities with the digital skills needed for employment and livelihood opportunities in the digital economy.
- SAP aims to upskill 2 million people worldwide by 2025.
- Google recently announced €25 million in funding to support AI training and skills for people across Europe.
IBM
“IBM is proud to join this timely, business-driven effort to bring together our shared expertise and resources to prepare the workforce for the AI era. As industry leaders, our collective responsibility is to Our goal is to develop technology that can enable people of all backgrounds and experience levels to reskill and upskill as AI transforms the way we work and creates new jobs.” – Gian Luigi Cattaneo, Vice President, Human Resources, IBM EMEA
Accenture
“Helping organizations identify skills gaps and train talent quickly and at scale is a top priority for Accenture, and this consortium will help advance cutting-edge technology, data and AI skills within the community. We bring together an incredible ecosystem of industry partners committed to reskilling talent to leverage AI. Retraining talent to take advantage of AI is paramount across all industries. Organizations that invest in learning as much as technology We are in a position to not only create, but to lead in the market.” – Ellyn Shook, Accenture CEO and Head of Human Resources
eightfold
“The dynamics of work and the nature of work are evolving at an unprecedented pace. At Eightfold, we examine the most sought-after roles and dig into reskilling and upskilling needs. Through our Talent Intelligence Platform, Enabling business leaders to quickly adapt to changing business environments. We take pride in contributing to the creation of knowledgeable and responsible resources that help organizations prepare for the future of work. – Ashutosh Garg, CEO and Co-Founder of Eightfold AI
“At Google, we believe that the opportunities created by technology should be truly accessible to everyone. We are proud to join the Enabled Workforce Consortium. We are committed to empowering workers of all backgrounds to effectively use AI to prepare for future-ready jobs, seize new opportunities, and thrive in our economy. We are committed to collaborating across sectors to help people develop the skills they need to grow.” – Lisa Gevelber, Founder, Grow with Google
surely
“At Indeed, our mission is to help people find jobs. Our research shows that from truck drivers to doctors to software engineers, virtually every job currently listed on Indeed is GenAI-driven. We look forward to contributing to the Workforce Consortium's important efforts to help employees learn new skills and gain on-the-job experience using evolving AI tools. Companies that do this will strengthen their professional pool, increase retention rates, and expand the pool of qualified candidates.” – Hannah Calhoon, Head of AI Innovation at Indeed
intel
“At Intel, our purpose is to create world-changing technologies that improve the lives of everyone on the planet, and we believe that deploying AI everywhere is the key to thriving businesses and societies. To do that, we need to make AI skills accessible to everyone. By 2030, Intel will work with 30 countries and empower 30,000 educational institutions to power jobs today and tomorrow. We are committed to expanding our digital readiness by training 30 million people for the latest AI-enabled ICT talent. Working with industry leaders as part of this AI-enabled ICT talent consortium, we can upskill and reskill our workforce. We aim to prepare the workforce for the digital economy of tomorrow.” – Christy Pambianchi, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Intel Corporation
microsoft
“As a global leader in AI innovation, Microsoft is proud to join the ICT Workforce Consortium and continue our work to shape an inclusive and equitable technology future for all. As a member of the consortium, we We will work with industry leaders to share best practices, create accessible learning opportunities, and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure workers have the technology skills of tomorrow.” – Amy Panoni Vice President and Deputy General Manager Microsoft Human Resources and General Counsel
SAP
“SAP is proud to be part of this effort to help our employees prepare for the future of work and make AI relevant, reliable, and accountable across businesses and roles. As we navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world, AI will reshape industries, revolutionize problem-solving, unlock unprecedented levels of human potential, and become more intelligent. SAP has the potential to create an efficient and inclusive workforce over the years. SAP has supported many skills-building programs over the years, and as part of the consortium we are looking forward to further learning opportunities, innovation, and forward-thinking We look forward to driving change.” – Nicole Helmer, SAP Vice President and Global Head of Development and Learning
Source: IBM