As we turn our calendars to 2018, I wanted to relay some exciting things from UpSkill America that you can expect from us in the new year.

2018 provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to create, expand, or improve upskilling programs. With the recently enacted cut in corporate tax rates, companies have new resources to put behind programs to help entry-level and frontline workers earn their high school diplomas or GEDs, earn and learn in an apprenticeship program, complete a certificate program, or even fulfil their dream of getting a college degree. For three years, UpSkill America has been tracking how employers design, implement and manage these programs. We’re very excited about the work we have planned for 2018.

Thanks to the grant mentioned above, we are going to be focused on four key activities this year:

  • Assessing employers’ needs for tools to implement more upskilling programs in one of eight areas.
  • Identifying existing upskilling support tools, and new tools where gaps exist, that can be adapted, expanded upon, and shared with the UpSkill America network.
  • Developing and testing tools to assist employers with upskilling program establishment, operation, improvement, and results.
  • Deploying upskilling tools through direct employer engagement and through employer-facing networks.

Read the full article about the future of upskilling by Jaime Fall at The Aspen Institute.