Microsoft plans to offer free access to educational content on LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn, and the GitHub Learning Lab.
Angela Lang / CNET
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Microsoft launched an initiative Tuesday to offer digital skills training to 25 million people worldwide by the end of 2020. As part of the initiative, the company will provide free access to educational content on LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn, and GitHub Learning Lab. .
“In six months, the world has endured multiple challenges, including a pandemic that has caused a global economic crisis,” said Microsoft President Brad Smith in a blog post. what it was in January. ”
More than 42 million people, about a quarter of American workers, have reportedly applied for unemployment in the past two months. A poll by the Institute for Economic Policy in April calculated that the figure is less than the actual number of Americans without jobs, saying more people could have applied if unemployment processes were easier.
“One of the key steps necessary to foster a safe and successful economic recovery is expanding access to the digital skills necessary to fill new jobs,” said Smith.
The initiative will work to identify jobs in demand and provide access to free digital training and low-cost certifications to help people develop the skills required for those positions, Microsoft said.
The company said it will also award $ 20 million in grants to nonprofits around the world to help those affected by COVID-19. A quarter of the grants will go to non-profit organizations based in the US that target and serve communities of color.
