Workforce Development

Technology skills are increasingly important to all kinds of jobs in all corners of the globe. For example, half of all Germans currently use a computer to perform their job and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 77 percent of American jobs will require technology skills within the next decade. This same trend is happening around the world and governments clearly recognize that a tech-savvy workforce is a critical component for economic growth. Our investments in technology skills training benefit millions of people around the world — by imparting the IT skills, training, and certification they need to advance in the workplace.

A technologically fluent workforce benefits Microsoft, of course, by expanding our pool of potential recruits and business partners. But tech skills are essential to developing careers and achieving success in virtually every sector of the economy, from healthcare and construction to agriculture and manufacturing. And many people who have little or no technology skills are locked out of almost all job opportunities.

Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in delivering skills programs, particularly for adult workers who need to combine work with training. But we also help with technology products, training facilities and equipment, curriculum and certification. Our support includes:

  • Providing software skills training to over 150,000,000 people at some 40,000 community technology centers globally through our Unlimited Potential Community Technology Skills Program since 2003.
  • Providing IT training through our Partners in Learning program to more than 121 million students and 5.5 million educators in over 100 countries since 2003.
  • Providing online computing curriculum for adult learners through the Microsoft Digital Literacy program, including Microsoft E-Learning courses through Microsoft Elevate America and similar programs such as Britain Works.
  • Connecting businesses with over 300,000 students to provide skills training, industry insight and job placement services through Microsoft Students to Business.
  • Training toward industry-respected certification and training for specific IT and software jobs.

Our Forward-Looking Goals

  • Reach over 20 million people globally per year through the Community Technology Skills Program.
  • Reach 250 million students and teachers across 115 countries through our $500 million investment in the Partners in Learning program by 2013.
  • Provide job skills training to 2 million people by 2012 through Elevate America, and 500,000 by the end of our 2010 fiscal year.
  • Increase the number of students globally that benefit from the Students to Business program from 100,000 in 2009 to more than one million by 2012.

Additional Resources

 
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