Reskilling Against the Risk of Automation

Reskilling Against the Risk of Automation

Demand for both entry-level and highly skilled tech talent is at an all-time high, and companies across industries and geographies are struggling to find qualified employees. And, with 1.1 billion jobs liable to be radically transformed by technology in the next decade, a “reskilling revolution” is reaching a critical mass.

Already underrepresented populations like workers without a four-year degree are four times more likely to work in highly automatable jobs than individuals with a bachelor’s degree, with 55% of tasks performed by low-wage workers also at risk for automation. In the U.S. the automation risk varies but is anticipated to be most disruptive in Heartland states with higher proportions of blue collar workers, according to a Brookings Institute paper on how automation and AI are affecting people and places. 

This is why we at Cloudera firmly believe that reskilling programs are critical to opening doors for the talent of the future, meeting them where they are today to ensure their skills meet what’s demanded by the economy of tomorrow.

Prioritizing the Power of Partnership

To help be a part of the solution, we are excited to announce the launch of Cloudera’s pilot “Reskilling for the Tech Jobs of Tomorrow” program that includes key partnerships and collaborations with global organizations whose missions align with our own. 

Ultimately, we aim to make a meaningful impact via direct funding and programmatic participation – like 1:1 mentorship and curriculum guidance – supporting hundreds of people seeking and growing careers in tech. This includes nontraditional talent who today may be working in a job at risk for automation, but who should be given the opportunity to skill up and capture a higher paying tech job within their organization. 

This includes partnerships with organizations Per Scholas and Generation that provide no-cost skilling to prepare, place, and support hundreds of diverse individuals into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible.

According to Mona Mourshed, founding global CEO, Generation, “the learners in our Generation programs are motivated, talented individuals who have overcome a series of obstacles — rooted in systemic inequities — to achieve the milestones of completing their profession-specific training, successfully finding employment amongst our company partners, and building better lives for them and their families. We are excited to partner with Cloudera to build on Generation’s track record of success, and to provide opportunities for more people to start careers in high-growth tech professions that would otherwise be inaccessible.”

In addition to its work with Per Scholas and Generation, Cloudera’s pilot program also includes:

  • Collaboration with cross-sector industry coalitions –  Reboot Representation to collectively and intentionally invest in initiatives and research that promote a more inclusive technology industry as well as  SkillUp Coalition and National Skills Coalition Business Leaders United, to conduct research, share best practices, and advance industry conversations around the future of work 
  • Providing professional learning and development opportunities through 1:1 mentorships and internships with diverse high-school-aged students through Cloudera’s Teen Accelerator Program in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee  
  • Providing grants to like-mission organizations, including CareerVillage.org, a global online platform that’s free for students to ask any question about any career and receive personalized responses from real professionals

Click here for more information on Cloudera’s “Reskilling for the Tech Jobs of Tomorrow” initiative and follow along on our blog for updates on the pilot year of our program. 

 

Abhas Ricky
Chief Strategy Officer
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