Dive Brief:
- Randstad US has announced the launch of TRANSCEND, a program aimed at diverse and underrepresented workers to help them gain skills in subjects like technology and financial services at no cost, according to a Jan. 25 announcement.
- Randstad said the goal of the program is to build pipelines for diverse talent into high-demand jobs and industries and that it has partnered with the National Urban League to "help identify, screen and train program participants."
- Courses will span a wide range of topics including career readiness, business acumen, technology, financial services, non-clinical services and account management.
Dive Insight:
"The TRANSCEND program is yet another step in our goal to reskill 40,000 American workers and to provide additional resources to impact economic equity for diverse populations," Karen Fichuk, CEO of Randstad North America, said in the announcement. Fichuk also recently spoke on a panel about the future of the labor market, sharing that upskilling is a priority for employers and workers alike.
Randstad has also partnered with Udemy for a separate upskilling initiative focused on preparation for tech roles and building skills such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, Cloud, Python and Amazon Web Services proficiency.
The digital skills gap was an issue for employers before the pandemic, and has arguably gotten worse during it, according to multiple studies. Many believe employers need to play a stronger role in employee development in order to help meet this gap. Major tech companies such as Microsoft and Google have launched initiatives similar to Randstad's
