Dive Brief:
- In an ambitious move, Salesforce has signed the Trump administration's Pledge to America's Workers and plans to train half a million U.S. workers in the skills they need for today's jobs as well as tomorrow's, Salesforce announced in a press release. The company's free online learning platform, Trailhead, will provide anyone interested with access to much-needed skills, helping them "earn Salesforce credentials and get top jobs in the Salesforce ecosystem," the release said.
- Salesforce estimates that with its partnerships and customers, more than 3 million new jobs will be generated in the next three years. To meet demand, learners will get access to public speaking courses, soft skills and career development training and training in tech skills, like AI and mobile app basics, Salesforce said.
- Salesforce noted that around 300,000 job postings ask for Salesforce skills specifically. Trailhead will offer Salesforce administrator, developer and marketing manager training, among other kinds of training, Salesforce said.
Dive Insight:
With automation changing the nature of work, all industries are deciding between building or buying the talent they need. Faced with a tight talent market, upskilling current employees rather than looking externally for workers has gained popularity. But even as new tech destabilizes work, it also provides employers with learner-centric solutions that make upskilling easier for more workers.
"As someone who didn't graduate from high school, I never thought I'd have a career in the tech industry," said Zac Otero, Salesforce Einstein Analytics administrator at Advisors Asset Management, Inc. in the press release. "But with the free online learning from Trailhead and the support of the Salesforce community, I went from working in a meat packing plant to being a Salesforce administrator in less than a year. I'm living proof that it's possible.”
Workers are ready to upskill and are keenly aware of the need as digital transformation continues to shift roles and responsibilities. Some employers still lag in adopting L&D initiatives, while others work with state governments to address skills gaps and ensure they have a qualified talent pool at the ready. Salesforce, in this case, may alleviate some of the the learning and development pressure employers face by offering its programs for free.
The Pledge to America's Workers aimed to create 6 million jobs in the U.S. To help move training even further, new legislation was introduced in January that would help employers subsidize the cost of upskilling workers. These initiatives may be just the start as costs to reskill workers displaced by automation could reach over $30 billion.
